2007 Mercedes-Benz B-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,165 MOT tests, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz B-Class recorded a 73.0% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (29.1% fail rate), the 2007 B-Class comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.6%) and suspension (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, washers and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 1,489 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.4% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.4% fail against 28.4% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 20,165 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 2,733 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 2,542 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 2,209 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 1,582 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 1,575 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,063 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,489 |
| 2 | Washers | 1,362 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,263 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,017 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,006 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 916 |
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 | 39.6% | 7,987 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.7% | 5,588 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.5% | 4,342 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.5% | 3,521 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 2,565 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 1,720 |
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 | 254 | 19.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,297 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,770 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,772 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,639 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,406 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,835 | 28.4% |
| Petrol | 9,330 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,897 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 4,640 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 4,180 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 3,536 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 2,912 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 B-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (10.9% 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
How many 2007 Mercedes-Benz B-Classs pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 20,165 2007 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz B-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2007 B-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,165 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.