1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 251 MOT tests, the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 recorded a 79.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 20.6%, so the 1987 190 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.2% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and ball joint dust cover — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 13 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 13.2% versus 18.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 33 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 21 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 10 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 8 |
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 | 25.5% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.1% | 53 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 51 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.9% | 35 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 25 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 54 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 13.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 215 | 20.9% |
| Diesel | 36 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 52 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 54 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 51 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 41 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 1987 190
On a 1987 190, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190s pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 251 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 1987 190 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 60-90k band to 13.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 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.