2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class passed 91.2% of its 5,285 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), the 2022 C-Class comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests against 0.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.6% once past 90-120k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.6% of the time against 9.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 382 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 41 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.7% | 38 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 14 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 34 |
| 4 | Wipers | 21 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 20 |
| 6 | Washers | 16 |
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 | 21.8% | 1,153 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.7% | 195 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.6% | 188 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 159 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 47 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 28 |
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 | 3,284 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,743 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 216 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 3,686 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 1,574 | 9.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 203 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 5,050 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2022 C-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.7% 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.
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 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 5,285 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.8%).
Does the 2022 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,285 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.