1990 Mercedes-Benz 230 — MOT failures & pass rate
602 MOT tests on the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 230 are in this dataset, and 80.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), the 1990 230 comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.6% in 2021 to 16.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 72 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 39 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 32 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.3% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 21 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.3% | 158 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.8% | 107 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 64 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.5% | 51 |
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 | 50 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 46 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 135 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 156 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 129 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 132 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 136 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 104 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 101 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 1990 230
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 1990 Mercedes-Benz 230s pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 602 1990 Mercedes-Benz 230 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 230?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 1990 230 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 602 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.