2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 99,815 MOT tests, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recorded a 75.9% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rigid brake pipes and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 7,859 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 11.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.2% fail against 25.3% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 99,815 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.2% | 14,202 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 10,712 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 9,129 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 6,130 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 2,952 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 2,624 |
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 | 7,859 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,289 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,167 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,086 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 3,839 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 3,744 |
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 | 35.7% | 35,666 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.0% | 29,001 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 26,626 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 8,860 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.0% | 7,966 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 5,418 |
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 | 930 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,929 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 19,963 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 28,413 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 23,180 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 20,262 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 59,749 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 40,066 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,707 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 21,702 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 20,332 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 18,688 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 16,386 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 99,815 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2008 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 99,815 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.