2012 Mercedes-Benz 250 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz 250 passed 78.8% of its 288 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.3%) and tyres (8.3%) 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 16 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.2% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 24 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.3% | 24 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 20 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 6 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 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 | 16 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 10 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 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 | Brakes | 32.6% | 94 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 71 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.3% | 67 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 19 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.2% | 15 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 11 |
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 | 55 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 61 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 62 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 61 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 250
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Tyres (8.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz 250s pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 288 2012 Mercedes-Benz 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz 250?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by tyres (8.3%).
Does the 2012 250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 288 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.