2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
92,319 MOT tests on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are in this dataset, and 74.7% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 8,019 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.0% in the 0-30k band and 27.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (26.1% vs 24.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 14,823 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 10,457 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 7,944 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 5,432 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 4,216 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 3,007 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 8,019 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,847 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,749 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,211 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 3,816 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,934 |
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 | 36.3% | 33,501 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.9% | 31,279 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 24,991 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 8,522 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 7,565 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 6,072 |
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 | 963 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 7,080 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 18,290 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 26,247 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 21,271 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 18,290 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,522 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 44,797 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,008 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 20,449 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 18,892 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 16,589 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 14,381 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 C-Class
On a 2007 C-Class, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 C-Classs pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 92,319 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2007 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 92,319 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.