1996 Mercedes S 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

65.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,406

Total Tests (All Years)

119,611 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Mercedes S 280 as it ages.

13 yrs56.5%

→ ↓4.5%

14 yrs52.0%

→ ↑1.8%

15 yrs53.8%

→ ↑5.1%

16 yrs58.9%

→ ↓3.3%

17 yrs55.6%

→ ↑7.4%

18 yrs63.0%

→ ↓1.8%

19 yrs61.2%

→ ↑6.8%

20 yrs68.0%

→ ↑7.0%

21 yrs75.0%

→ ↓4.7%

22 yrs70.3%

→ ↓4.5%

23 yrs65.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	56.5%	269
14 yrs	52.0%	244
15 yrs	53.8%	199
16 yrs	58.9%	158
17 yrs	55.6%	124
18 yrs	63.0%	100
19 yrs	61.2%	98
20 yrs	68.0%	75
21 yrs	75.0%	64
22 yrs	70.3%	37
23 yrs	65.8%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes S 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (23 yrs)	65.8%	38
2018 (22 yrs)	70.3%	37
2017 (21 yrs)	75%	64
2016 (20 yrs)	68%	75
2015 (19 yrs)	61.2%	98
2014 (18 yrs)	63%	100
2013 (17 yrs)	55.6%	124
2012 (16 yrs)	58.9%	158
2011 (15 yrs)	53.8%	199
2010 (14 yrs)	52%	244
2009 (13 yrs)	56.5%	269

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 269Avg Mileage 108,760Top Failure Suspension — 23.0%

2010High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 244Avg Mileage 110,268Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2011High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 199Avg Mileage 112,791Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.1%

2012High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 158Avg Mileage 114,834Top Failure Brakes — 25.3%

2013High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 124Avg Mileage 115,480Top Failure Suspension — 71.8%

2014High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 100Avg Mileage 112,973Top Failure Brakes — 59.0%

2015High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 98Avg Mileage 114,291Top Failure Brakes — 63.3%

2016

68.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 75Avg Mileage 118,668Top Failure Suspension — 46.7%

2017

75.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 64Avg Mileage 118,392Top Failure Brakes — 31.3%

2018

70.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 37Avg Mileage 117,333Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2019

65.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 38Avg Mileage 119,611Top Failure Suspension — 42.1%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes S 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	56.5%	269	108,760	Suspension — 23.0%
2010	14	52.0%	244	110,268	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2011	15	53.8%	199	112,791	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.1%
2012	16	58.9%	158	114,834	Brakes — 25.3%
2013	17	55.6%	124	115,480	Suspension — 71.8%
2014	18	63.0%	100	112,973	Brakes — 59.0%
2015	19	61.2%	98	114,291	Brakes — 63.3%
2016	20	68.0%	75	118,668	Suspension — 46.7%
2017	21	75.0%	64	118,392	Brakes — 31.3%
2018	22	70.3%	37	117,333	Brakes — 24.3%
2019	23	65.8%	38	119,611	Suspension — 42.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes S 280, with age trends.

Noise, emissions and leaks

39.5%

— Consistent

Brakes

37.4%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

36.8%

— Consistent

Suspension

36.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.7%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.0% (13 yrs)	42.1% (23 yrs)	+19.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.6% (13 yrs)	23.7% (23 yrs)	+2.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes S 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 280 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 1,406 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.