1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 E — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,259 MOT tests, the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 E recorded an 80.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), the 1991 190 E comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and suspension (8.2%) 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 rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 123 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.2% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 243 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.2% | 184 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 154 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 151 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 73 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 66 |
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 | 123 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 78 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 73 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 68 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 64 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 59 |
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 | 31.1% | 702 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 607 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 377 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 376 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.7% | 354 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 276 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 156 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 393 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 560 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 513 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 611 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 519 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 507 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 452 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 391 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 390 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 1991 190 E
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 (6.8% 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
How many 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 Es pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 2,259 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 E MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 E?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.2%).
Does the 1991 190 E get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,259 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.