Mercedes-Benz 190 MOT pass rate & common failures
3,596 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz 190 (1983–2021) give it a 79.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 1.6pp 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 (11.3%) and suspension (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and non catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 200 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.3% versus 13.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 19.9% of the time against 20.3% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.0% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 190 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 41 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Brakes |
| 1985 | 86 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 180 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 251 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 322 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 802 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 555 | 78.7% | 21.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 398 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 445 | 79.5% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 314 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 408 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 309 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 255 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 203 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 182 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 115 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.1% | 74 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.5% | 55 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 200 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 176 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 140 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 120 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 110 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 93 |
| 7 | Ball joint dust cover | 83 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 75 |
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 | 26.1% | 937 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.1% | 901 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.3% | 513 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 449 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 414 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 352 |
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 | 67 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 342 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 661 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 723 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 714 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,078 | 21.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,264 | 19.9% |
| Diesel | 1,332 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 846 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 788 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 715 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 643 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 604 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz 190
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (7.1% 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?
79.9% of the 3,596 Mercedes-Benz 190 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.1% fail rate, across model years 1983–2021.
What does the Mercedes-Benz 190 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, then suspension (8.6%).
How much does mileage affect 190 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.3% for 150k+, a 7.9-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 190 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 19.9% of the time against 20.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,596 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.