Mercedes-Benz 190 E MOT pass rate & common failures
12,814 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz 190 E (1983–2019) give it a 79.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.6%) and suspension (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 713 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.4% versus 8.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 190 E model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 70 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Steering |
| 1985 | 47 | 80.8% | 19.1% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 222 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Suspension |
| 1987 | 266 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 488 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 1,402 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 2,400 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 2,259 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 3,038 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 2,403 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 129 | 83.0% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 1,364 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 1,059 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 954 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 891 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 556 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 423 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.5% | 319 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 265 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 713 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 501 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 393 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 390 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 389 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 340 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 309 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 301 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.9% | 3,704 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.8% | 3,429 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.3% | 1,961 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 1,929 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 1,922 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 1,446 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 214 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 859 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,128 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,295 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,036 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,275 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,986 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 2,794 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 2,546 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 2,261 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 2,227 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz 190 E
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (7.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz 190 E?
79.8% of the 12,814 Mercedes-Benz 190 E MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.3% fail rate, across model years 1983–2019.
What does the Mercedes-Benz 190 E most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, then suspension (8.3%).
How much does mileage affect 190 E MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.4% for 150k+, a 16.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,814 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.