1996 Mercedes S 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

67.5%

Latest Pass Rate

1,891

Total Tests (All Years)

119,747 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 320 as it ages.

13 yrs60.4%

→ ↑0.9%

14 yrs61.3%

→ ↑0.3%

15 yrs61.6%

→ ↓1.9%

16 yrs59.7%

→ ↑11.1%

17 yrs70.8%

→ ↓3.7%

18 yrs67.1%

→ ↑0.4%

19 yrs67.5%

→ ↑1.9%

20 yrs69.4%

→ ↑4.6%

21 yrs74.0%

→ ↓3.5%

22 yrs70.5%

→ ↓2.9%

23 yrs67.6%

→ ↓0.1%

24 yrs67.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	60.4%	374
14 yrs	61.3%	320
15 yrs	61.6%	258
16 yrs	59.7%	206
17 yrs	70.8%	168
18 yrs	67.1%	146
19 yrs	67.5%	117
20 yrs	69.4%	111
21 yrs	74.0%	73
22 yrs	70.5%	44
23 yrs	67.6%	34
24 yrs	67.5%	40

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes S 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	67.5%	40
2019 (23 yrs)	67.6%	34
2018 (22 yrs)	70.5%	44
2017 (21 yrs)	74%	73
2016 (20 yrs)	69.4%	111
2015 (19 yrs)	67.5%	117
2014 (18 yrs)	67.1%	146
2013 (17 yrs)	70.8%	168
2012 (16 yrs)	59.7%	206
2011 (15 yrs)	61.6%	258
2010 (14 yrs)	61.3%	320
2009 (13 yrs)	60.4%	374

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 374Avg Mileage 117,464Top Failure Brakes — 20.6%

2010High Fail Rate

61.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 320Avg Mileage 116,003Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2011High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 258Avg Mileage 115,656Top Failure Brakes — 20.2%

2012High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 206Avg Mileage 118,340Top Failure Suspension — 25.7%

2013

70.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 168Avg Mileage 119,297Top Failure Suspension — 41.1%

2014

67.1%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 146Avg Mileage 120,623Top Failure Suspension — 42.5%

2015

67.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 117Avg Mileage 118,317Top Failure Suspension — 35.9%

2016

69.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 111Avg Mileage 116,052Top Failure Brakes — 44.1%

2017

74.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 73Avg Mileage 115,550Top Failure Brakes — 39.7%

2018

70.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 44Avg Mileage 126,664Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2019

67.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 34Avg Mileage 112,375Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 47.1%

2020

67.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 40Avg Mileage 119,747Top Failure Suspension — 35.0%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes S 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	60.4%	374	117,464	Brakes — 20.6%
2010	14	61.3%	320	116,003	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2011	15	61.6%	258	115,656	Brakes — 20.2%
2012	16	59.7%	206	118,340	Suspension — 25.7%
2013	17	70.8%	168	119,297	Suspension — 41.1%
2014	18	67.1%	146	120,623	Suspension — 42.5%
2015	19	67.5%	117	118,317	Suspension — 35.9%
2016	20	69.4%	111	116,052	Brakes — 44.1%
2017	21	74.0%	73	115,550	Brakes — 39.7%
2018	22	70.5%	44	126,664	Brakes — 50.0%
2019	23	67.6%	34	112,375	Noise, emissions and leaks — 47.1%
2020	24	67.5%	40	119,747	Suspension — 35.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes S 320, with age trends.

Brakes

31.3%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

27.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

27.1%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

22.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.2%

↓ 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	18.2% (13 yrs)	35.0% (24 yrs)	+16.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.6% (13 yrs)	27.5% (24 yrs)	+6.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 320 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 320 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,891 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.