Mercedes-Benz 250 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mercedes-Benz 250 appears in 1,924 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2022, and 81.0% of them passed. That is 1.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.8%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — tread depth alone was recorded 72 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.6% versus 8.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 250 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 31 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Brakes |
| 1989 | 58 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 93 | 80.7% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 93 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 67 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Suspension |
| 1993 | 36 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2009 | 135 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 171 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 162 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 288 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 117 | 82.0% | 17.9% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 143 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 100 | 87.0% | 13.0% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 107 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 38 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 154 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 146 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 133 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 60 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 48 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 43 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 23 |
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 | 72 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 62 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 50 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 47 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 37 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 34 |
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 | 27.2% | 524 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.0% | 423 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.9% | 421 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 216 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 125 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 116 |
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 | 87 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 324 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 478 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 369 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 271 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 394 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,575 | 19.2% |
| Petrol | 338 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 420 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 394 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 393 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 371 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 346 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz 250
- Suspension (8.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz 250?
81.0% of the 1,924 Mercedes-Benz 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.0% fail rate, across model years 1980–2022.
What does the Mercedes-Benz 250 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (7.6%).
How much does mileage affect 250 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.6% for 150k+, a 14.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,924 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.