1997 Mercedes S 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

60.0%

Latest Pass Rate

1,861

Total Tests (All Years)

107,652 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 1997 Mercedes S 280 as it ages.

12 yrs54.7%

→ ↑3.6%

13 yrs58.3%

→ ↓2.8%

14 yrs55.5%

→ ↑5.6%

15 yrs61.1%

→ ↓7.7%

16 yrs53.4%

→ ↑8.9%

17 yrs62.3%

→ ↓2.8%

18 yrs59.5%

→ ↑6.6%

19 yrs66.1%

→ ↓1.5%

20 yrs64.6%

→ ↑7.6%

21 yrs72.2%

→ ↓9.9%

22 yrs62.3%

→ ↓2.3%

23 yrs60.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	54.7%	329
13 yrs	58.3%	278
14 yrs	55.5%	247
15 yrs	61.1%	208
16 yrs	53.4%	161
17 yrs	62.3%	146
18 yrs	59.5%	126
19 yrs	66.1%	115
20 yrs	64.6%	99
21 yrs	72.2%	54
22 yrs	62.3%	53
23 yrs	60.0%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes S 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	60%	45
2019 (22 yrs)	62.3%	53
2018 (21 yrs)	72.2%	54
2017 (20 yrs)	64.6%	99
2016 (19 yrs)	66.1%	115
2015 (18 yrs)	59.5%	126
2014 (17 yrs)	62.3%	146
2013 (16 yrs)	53.4%	161
2012 (15 yrs)	61.1%	208
2011 (14 yrs)	55.5%	247
2010 (13 yrs)	58.3%	278
2009 (12 yrs)	54.7%	329

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 329Avg Mileage 107,984Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%

2010High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 278Avg Mileage 107,125Top Failure Suspension — 22.7%

2011High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 247Avg Mileage 110,493Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%

2012High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 208Avg Mileage 106,774Top Failure Suspension — 22.6%

2013High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 161Avg Mileage 106,758Top Failure Suspension — 62.1%

2014High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 146Avg Mileage 112,271Top Failure Brakes — 54.8%

2015High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 126Avg Mileage 115,144Top Failure Brakes — 72.2%

2016

66.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 115Avg Mileage 109,869Top Failure Suspension — 35.7%

2017High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 99Avg Mileage 114,003Top Failure Brakes — 57.6%

2018

72.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 54Avg Mileage 102,668Top Failure Suspension — 20.4%

2019High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 53Avg Mileage 105,486Top Failure Brakes — 56.6%

2020High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 45Avg Mileage 107,652Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 26.7%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes S 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	54.7%	329	107,984	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%
2010	13	58.3%	278	107,125	Suspension — 22.7%
2011	14	55.5%	247	110,493	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%
2012	15	61.1%	208	106,774	Suspension — 22.6%
2013	16	53.4%	161	106,758	Suspension — 62.1%
2014	17	62.3%	146	112,271	Brakes — 54.8%
2015	18	59.5%	126	115,144	Brakes — 72.2%
2016	19	66.1%	115	109,869	Suspension — 35.7%
2017	20	64.6%	99	114,003	Brakes — 57.6%
2018	21	72.2%	54	102,668	Suspension — 20.4%
2019	22	62.3%	53	105,486	Brakes — 56.6%
2020	23	60.0%	45	107,652	Noise, emissions and leaks — 26.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes S 280, with age trends.

Brakes

36.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

34.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.9%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

20.5%

— Consistent

Tyres

19.1%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	21.6% (12 yrs)	26.7% (23 yrs)	+5.1%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.4% (12 yrs)	20.0% (23 yrs)	+3.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	20.4% (12 yrs)	22.2% (23 yrs)	+1.8%	⚪ —

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,861 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.