1997 Mercedes V 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

48.0%

Latest Pass Rate

2,975

Total Tests (All Years)

118,199 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for V 230

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes V 230 as it ages.

12 yrs41.3%

→ ↑1.9%

13 yrs43.2%

→ ↓1.1%

14 yrs42.1%

→ ↓2.5%

15 yrs39.6%

→ ↓0.0%

16 yrs39.6%

→ ↑0.7%

17 yrs40.3%

→ ↓1.5%

18 yrs38.8%

→ ↑8.2%

19 yrs47.0%

→ ↑1.5%

20 yrs48.5%

→ ↑0.3%

21 yrs48.8%

→ ↑8.6%

22 yrs57.4%

→ ↓9.4%

23 yrs48.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	41.3%	533
13 yrs	43.2%	475
14 yrs	42.1%	416
15 yrs	39.6%	341
16 yrs	39.6%	285
17 yrs	40.3%	236
18 yrs	38.8%	196
19 yrs	47.0%	168
20 yrs	48.5%	134
21 yrs	48.8%	80
22 yrs	57.4%	61
23 yrs	48.0%	50

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes V 230 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	48%	50
2019 (22 yrs)	57.4%	61
2018 (21 yrs)	48.8%	80
2017 (20 yrs)	48.5%	134
2016 (19 yrs)	47%	168
2015 (18 yrs)	38.8%	196
2014 (17 yrs)	40.3%	236
2013 (16 yrs)	39.6%	285
2012 (15 yrs)	39.6%	341
2011 (14 yrs)	42.1%	416
2010 (13 yrs)	43.2%	475
2009 (12 yrs)	41.3%	533

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 533Avg Mileage 104,062Top Failure Brakes — 40.7%

2010High Fail Rate

43.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 475Avg Mileage 107,451Top Failure Brakes — 37.5%

2011High Fail Rate

42.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 416Avg Mileage 110,574Top Failure Brakes — 41.6%

2012High Fail Rate

39.6%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 341Avg Mileage 112,039Top Failure Suspension — 40.5%

2013High Fail Rate

39.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 285Avg Mileage 113,764Top Failure Brakes — 113.0%

2014High Fail Rate

40.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 236Avg Mileage 118,992Top Failure Suspension — 124.6%

2015High Fail Rate

38.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 196Avg Mileage 116,952Top Failure Brakes — 123.0%

2016High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 168Avg Mileage 122,054Top Failure Brakes — 113.7%

2017High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 134Avg Mileage 113,712Top Failure Brakes — 110.4%

2018High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 80Avg Mileage 118,833Top Failure Brakes — 115.0%

2019High Fail Rate

57.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 61Avg Mileage 123,331Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 93.4%

2020High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 50Avg Mileage 118,199Top Failure Brakes — 98.0%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes V 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	41.3%	533	104,062	Brakes — 40.7%
2010	13	43.2%	475	107,451	Brakes — 37.5%
2011	14	42.1%	416	110,574	Brakes — 41.6%
2012	15	39.6%	341	112,039	Suspension — 40.5%
2013	16	39.6%	285	113,764	Brakes — 113.0%
2014	17	40.3%	236	118,992	Suspension — 124.6%
2015	18	38.8%	196	116,952	Brakes — 123.0%
2016	19	47.0%	168	122,054	Brakes — 113.7%
2017	20	48.5%	134	113,712	Brakes — 110.4%
2018	21	48.8%	80	118,833	Brakes — 115.0%
2019	22	57.4%	61	123,331	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 93.4%
2020	23	48.0%	50	118,199	Brakes — 98.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes V 230, with age trends.

Brakes

86.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

72.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

61.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

56.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

36.6%

↑ 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	40.7% (12 yrs)	98.0% (23 yrs)	+57.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	31.5% (12 yrs)	80.0% (23 yrs)	+48.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1997 1998 1999

← Back to Mercedes V 230 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes V 230 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes V 230 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,975 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.