1997 Mercedes Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

28.3%

Latest Pass Rate

870

Total Tests (All Years)

115,747 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 1997 Mercedes Unclassified as it ages.

12 yrs48.9%

→ ↑0.8%

13 yrs49.7%

→ ↓2.3%

14 yrs47.4%

→ ↑0.8%

15 yrs48.2%

→ ↑3.3%

16 yrs51.5%

→ ↑18.2%

17 yrs69.7%

→ ↑7.4%

19 yrs77.1%

→ ↓48.8%

27 yrs28.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	48.9%	235
13 yrs	49.7%	191
14 yrs	47.4%	154
15 yrs	48.2%	110
16 yrs	51.5%	66
17 yrs	69.7%	33
19 yrs	77.1%	35
27 yrs	28.3%	46

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	28.3%	46
2016 (19 yrs)	77.1%	35
2014 (17 yrs)	69.7%	33
2013 (16 yrs)	51.5%	66
2012 (15 yrs)	48.2%	110
2011 (14 yrs)	47.4%	154
2010 (13 yrs)	49.7%	191
2009 (12 yrs)	48.9%	235

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 235Avg Mileage 165,465Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%

2010High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 191Avg Mileage 176,985Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2011High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 154Avg Mileage 181,125Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%

2012High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 110Avg Mileage 175,118Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%

2013High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 66Avg Mileage 161,814Top Failure Suspension — 65.2%

2014

69.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 33Avg Mileage 144,188Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%

2016

77.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 35Avg Mileage 190,579Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.4%

2024High Fail Rate

28.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 46Avg Mileage 115,747Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 123.9%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	48.9%	235	165,465	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%
2010	13	49.7%	191	176,985	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2011	14	47.4%	154	181,125	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%
2012	15	48.2%	110	175,118	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%
2013	16	51.5%	66	161,814	Suspension — 65.2%
2014	17	69.7%	33	144,188	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%
2016	19	77.1%	35	190,579	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.4%
2024	27	28.3%	46	115,747	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 123.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

123.9%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

60.9%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

48.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

42.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

42.3%

↑ 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
Suspension	28.5% (12 yrs)	84.8% (27 yrs)	+56.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	33.6% (12 yrs)	54.3% (27 yrs)	+20.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Unclassified cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 870 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.