2007 Mercedes-Benz 320 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz 320 passed 77.5% of its 552 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 2007 320 comes out 4.3pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.5%) and suspension (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 320 fails 21.7% of the time in the 60-90k band and 21.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.5% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 56 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 52 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 26 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 22 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 15 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 30 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 29 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 22 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 19 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 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 | Brakes | 34.6% | 191 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 151 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.2% | 139 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 89 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 43 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 83 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 129 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 189 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 141 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 137 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 108 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 90 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 78 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 320
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 (10.1% 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 (9.4% 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 2007 Mercedes-Benz 320s pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 552 2007 Mercedes-Benz 320 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz 320?
Brakes, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2007 320 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 60-90k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 552 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.