2003 Mercedes S 350 MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for S 350 models manufactured in 2003, based on 4,158 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all S 350 cars tested in 2003. Want to see how cars built in 2003 hold up over time?
View 2003 Mercedes S 350 vintage page → (73.0% current pass rate)2003 Mercedes S 350 MOT Analysis
The 2003 Mercedes S 350 has an MOT pass rate of 72.9% based on 4,158 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 89,609 miles on the odometer. With a 27.1% failure rate, the 2003 S 350 is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2003 Mercedes S 350 is Brakes, responsible for 1.7% of failures. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs range from £150–400. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the second most common issue at 0.8%. Tyres follows at 0.7%.
Top failures specific to 2003 models only. The overall S 350 page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1.7% | 69 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.8% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 0.7% | 31 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.3% | 12 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.2% | 10 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 9 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 0.1% | 5 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 3 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 89,609 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.19 | 1.7% | 69 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.09 | 0.8% | 35 |
| Tyres | 0.08 | 0.7% | 31 |
| Suspension | 0.08 | 0.7% | 31 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.03 | 0.3% | 12 |
| Visibility | 0.03 | 0.3% | 12 |
| Body & Structure | 0.03 | 0.2% | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 0.02 | 0.2% | 9 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.01 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.01 | 0.1% | 3 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 2003 Mercedes S 350 has an MOT pass rate of 72.9% based on 4,158 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 89,609 miles on the odometer. With a 27.1% failure rate, the 2003 S 350 is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 2003 Mercedes S 350, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm). With an average mileage of 89,609 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Brakes — 1.7% of failures
Brakes issues account for 1.7% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes S 350 models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.8% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.8% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes S 350 models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 0.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes S 350 models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.