Mercedes-Benz reliability: MOT results 2024

Figures updated 1 October 2026

118Well above average

Ranked 15 of 52 makes

1,620,245 Mercedes-Benz cars aged 3 to 20 had an MOT in 2024, and 23.2% failed first time (UK average 28.5%). Allowing for age and mileage, a Mercedes-Benz is 15% less likely to fail than the average car of the same age and mileage. At their first MOT, 12.0% failed (UK 12.7%).

Mercedes-Benz models ranked

Model	Score	Fail rate	First MOT	Tests
Mercedes-Benz CL	196	20.1%	–	2,022
Mercedes-Benz SL	188	16.0%	–	13,364
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	181	16.6%	6.3%	24,267
Mercedes-Benz GL	174	20.7%	–	3,607
Mercedes-Benz GLE	150	12.7%	11.6%	29,073
Mercedes-Benz G-Class	147	12.1%	9.4%	2,681
Mercedes-Benz ML	142	27.7%	–	29,499
Mercedes-Benz GLS	141	13.5%	14.5%	2,673
Mercedes-Benz GLC	139	13.1%	9.2%	75,829
Mercedes-Benz R-Class	134	31.9%	–	2,079
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	133	22.5%	13.3%	230,974
Mercedes-Benz GLB	132	10.0%	9.2%	5,450
Mercedes-Benz CLS	127	26.3%	–	23,599
Mercedes-Benz GLA	122	15.3%	8.6%	84,382
Mercedes-Benz SLK	121	27.5%	–	46,780
Mercedes-Benz C-Class	120	25.5%	13.1%	362,136
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	120	18.7%	19.1%	11,542
Mercedes-Benz Viano	117	34.8%	–	5,362
Mercedes-Benz Sprintervan	116	28.4%	17.7%	21,012
Mercedes-Benz SLC	113	13.7%	8.1%	8,937
Mercedes-Benz CLK	111	39.1%	–	22,032
Mercedes-Benz A-Class	108	21.4%	10.2%	341,498
Mercedes-Benz CLA	107	19.7%	14.0%	60,128
Mercedes-Benz B-Class	106	27.5%	8.8%	71,636
Mercedes-Benz Vitovan	99	33.4%	22.6%	85,619
Mercedes-Benz EQA	96	12.4%	12.4%	3,482
Mercedes-Benz CLC	95	43.9%	–	8,510
Mercedes-Benz AMG	91	13.7%	13.7%	3,977
Mercedes-Benz X-Classvan	90	20.8%	–	3,810
Mercedes-Benz EQC	85	16.0%	16.0%	5,565
Mercedes-Benz Citanvan	67	39.3%	29.5%	20,255

Mercedes-Benz MOT failure rate by age

What Mercedes-Benz cars fail on

Area	Tests failing	vs similar cars
Tyres	7.3%	1.1× as often
Suspension	7.1%	▼ 11% less often
Lights and electrics	6.0%	▼ 41% less often
Brakes	5.6%	▼ 13% less often
Visibility	3.0%	▼ 34% less often
Exhaust and emissions	2.8%	About average
Body and structure	1.4%	▼ 53% less often
Seat belts and airbags	1.1%	▲ 1.2× as often
Wheels	0.7%	▲ 1.9× as often
Steering	0.7%	▼ 64% less often

Most common Mercedes-Benz MOT faults

Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5% of tests
Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.4% of tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken2.3% of tests
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2% of tests
Condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7% of tests
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.7% of tests

Compare Mercedes-Benz cars with their rivals

Frequently asked questions

›Are Mercedes-Benz cars reliable?

By MOT results, Mercedes-Benz ranks 15 of 52 makes in 2024, with a reliability score of 118 (100 is average for the same age and mileage). 23.2% of Mercedes-Benz cars failed their MOT first time.

›What is the most reliable Mercedes-Benz?

The Mercedes-Benz CL, with a score of 196. The lowest-scoring is the Citan (67).

›What do Mercedes-Benz cars fail their MOT on?

Seat belts and airbags: 1.1% of Mercedes-Benz MOTs failed on it, 1.2 times the rate for similar cars. The single most common fault was “Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0. How we calculate the league.