2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
94,570 MOT tests on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are in this dataset, and 78.0% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.6%) and lighting & signalling (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, ball joint and tread depth — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 6,131 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.3% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.3pp more often than petrol ones (23.7% vs 19.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.6% | 10,923 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 9,017 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 7,710 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 5,648 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 3,295 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,979 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,131 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 5,202 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,759 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,554 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,885 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,588 |
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 | 34.8% | 32,887 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.4% | 25,002 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.0% | 21,784 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 9,767 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 6,526 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 5,805 |
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 | 1,029 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 8,956 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 24,373 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 28,128 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 18,891 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 13,137 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 57,254 | 23.7% |
| Petrol | 37,316 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,295 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 20,345 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 19,376 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 15,859 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 C-Class
On a 2010 C-Class, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 94,570 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2010 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 94,570 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.