2008 Mercedes-Benz 220 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz 220 passed 71.8% of its 379 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.9% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and coil spring — ball joint alone was recorded 36 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.5% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.9% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 52 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 48 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.7% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 36 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 27 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 23 |
| 5 | Washers | 20 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 19 |
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 | 40.4% | 153 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.8% | 132 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 106 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 37 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 17 |
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 | 51 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 138 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 79 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 85 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 67 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 60 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 220
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.9% 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 (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2008 Mercedes-Benz 220s pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 379 2008 Mercedes-Benz 220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz 220?
Suspension, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2008 220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.5% in the 60-90k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 379 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.