Mercedes-Benz C-Class: lighting & signalling MOT failures
Of the 2,277,625 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset, 5.5% recorded at least one lighting & signalling failure. It shows up most on 1999 and 2004 cars.
Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair cost: £10–£150 (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Lighting & signalling failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1,806 | 11.3% |
| 1995 | 2,396 | 12.8% |
| 1996 | 3,076 | 11.2% |
| 1997 | 5,337 | 12.0% |
| 1998 | 6,987 | 12.4% |
| 1999 | 6,367 | 13.3% |
| 2000 | 5,638 | 13.2% |
| 2001 | 12,091 | 13.0% |
| 2002 | 22,550 | 12.8% |
| 2003 | 39,827 | 12.3% |
| 2004 | 55,339 | 13.4% |
| 2005 | 71,633 | 13.1% |
| 2006 | 77,985 | 11.8% |
| 2007 | 92,319 | 11.3% |
| 2008 | 99,815 | 10.7% |
| 2009 | 93,481 | 9.7% |
| 2010 | 94,570 | 9.5% |
| 2011 | 131,800 | 6.7% |
| 2012 | 174,097 | 5.0% |
| 2013 | 151,705 | 4.9% |
| 2014 | 153,870 | 3.4% |
| 2015 | 203,661 | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 214,561 | 1.9% |
| 2017 | 227,716 | 1.6% |
| 2018 | 161,558 | 1.5% |
| 2019 | 111,720 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 34,731 | 1.3% |
| 2021 | 14,133 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 5,285 | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 423 | 0.5% |
Methodology & source. 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.