2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class passed 87.0% of its 214,561 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 12.7%, so the 2016 C-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.6%) and suspension (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 9,825 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.0% versus 7.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (13.8% vs 11.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 14,171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.0% | 8,549 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 4,905 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 4,078 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 4,002 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 3,561 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 9,825 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 5,366 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4,558 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 4,129 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,597 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 3,409 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.5% | 52,479 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 32,352 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 14,241 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 11,337 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 7,094 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 2,469 |
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 | 19,178 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 84,730 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 67,983 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 28,520 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 9,371 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,726 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 147,834 | 13.8% |
| Petrol | 42,270 | 11.1% |
| Hybrid | 24,441 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,981 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 43,188 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 43,468 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 42,800 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 42,124 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C-Class
On a 2016 C-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 214,561 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by suspension (4.0%).
Does the 2016 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 214,561 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.