Mercedes-Benz 280 MOT pass rate & common failures
4,946 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz 280 (1980–2022) give it an 81.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.5% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests against 6.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 288 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.8% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.6% in 2021 to 17.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 280 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 102 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1981 | 210 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1982 | 387 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1983 | 695 | 84.2% | 15.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 817 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 1,030 | 81.5% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 106 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 129 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 147 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 162 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 93 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 63 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 203 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 36 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 34 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 39 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Tyres |
| 1998 | 31 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 39 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 31 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2005 | 45 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 92 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 96 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 71 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 49 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 540 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 335 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 289 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 267 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 212 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 173 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.4% | 117 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.6% | 78 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 288 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 238 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 161 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 138 |
| 5 | Washers | 134 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 134 |
| 7 | Wipers | 114 |
| 8 | Non catalyst emissions | 103 |
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 | 22.1% | 1,094 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 927 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.1% | 897 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 672 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.2% | 555 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.3% | 363 |
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 | 376 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 708 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,240 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,164 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 786 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 670 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,566 | 18.2% |
| Diesel | 380 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,323 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 1,140 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 987 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 825 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 671 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz 280
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 (5.8% 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.
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 280?
81.5% of the 4,946 Mercedes-Benz 280 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.5% fail rate, across model years 1980–2022.
What does the Mercedes-Benz 280 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, then suspension (6.8%).
How much does mileage affect 280 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.8% for 150k+, a 6.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,946 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.