2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 111,720 MOT tests, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recorded a 90.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests against 1.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 4,066 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.2% in the 0-30k band and 16.2% in the 150k+ band, a 9.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.0% fail against 10.5% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 104,968 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 7,409 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,537 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,426 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 1,281 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 1,200 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 661 |
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 | 4,066 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,498 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,229 |
| 4 | Wipers | 879 |
| 5 | Washers | 762 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 661 |
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 | 24.2% | 27,038 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 11,590 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 4,887 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,383 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 2,797 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 1,055 |
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 | 47,112 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 50,450 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 11,713 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,947 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 332 | 10.2% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,346 | 9.0% |
| Diesel | 47,622 | 10.5% |
| Hybrid | 6,724 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,225 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 28,111 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 27,867 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 27,166 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 27,351 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (1.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 111,720 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.4%).
Does the 2019 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 111,720 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.