2014 Mercedes-Benz 220 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz 220 passed 84.0% of its 337 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.6%) and suspension (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 19 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.1% versus 11.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.4% in 2021 to 11.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 29 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 12 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 19 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 5 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 32.0% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 74 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 46 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 9 |
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 | 63 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 135 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 73 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 68 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 67 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 62 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 220
On a 2014 220, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 (3.6% 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz 220s pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 337 2014 Mercedes-Benz 220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz 220?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.6%).
Does the 2014 220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 30-60k band to 19.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 337 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.