Mercedes-Benz C220d — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz C220d passed 89.3% of its 9,299 MOT tests, covering model years 1995–2024. That is 7.2 percentage points better than the 17.9% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz C-Class versions, so the C220d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 342 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.9% once past 150k — 3.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.0% in 2021 to 10.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 43 | 74.4% | 25.6% |
| 2009 | 53 | 79.3% | 20.8% |
| 2011 | 60 | 68.3% | 31.7% |
| 2012 | 80 | 76.3% | 23.8% |
| 2013 | 87 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 2014 | 89 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2015 | 112 | 83.0% | 17.0% |
| 2016 | 235 | 80.8% | 19.1% |
| 2017 | 99 | 84.9% | 15.2% |
| 2018 | 113 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2019 | 772 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2020 | 2,177 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2021 | 3,988 | 90.5% | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 1,202 | 91.0% | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 92 | 94.6% | 5.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 642 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.8% | 167 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 155 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 131 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 117 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 76 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 47 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 27 |
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 | 342 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 165 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 98 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 86 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 73 |
| 6 | Wipers | 68 |
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 | 22.9% | 2,126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 1,005 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 472 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 340 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 333 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 127 |
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 | 3,276 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,264 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,133 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 341 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 174 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 108 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 177 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 476 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 1,269 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 3,124 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 4,253 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz C220d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.9% 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 (1.8% 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 (1.7% 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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz C220d at MOT time?
89.3% of the 9,299 Mercedes-Benz C220d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate, better than the 17.9% average across all C-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz C220d?
Tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by suspension (1.8%).
Does the C220d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,299 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.