2015 Mercedes-Benz 220 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz 220 passed 84.9% of its 352 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.5%) and brakes (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 13 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 18.2% versus 8.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 17 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 16 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 12 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 12 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 4 |
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 | 13 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 6 |
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 | 28.4% | 100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 59 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 43 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 14 |
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 | 84 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 55 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 70 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 69 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 71 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 69 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 220
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
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 2015 Mercedes-Benz 220s pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 352 2015 Mercedes-Benz 220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz 220?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.8%).
Does the 2015 220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 30-60k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 352 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.