2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 77.3% of its 5,760 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 346 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.5% of the time against 23.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 903 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 563 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.3% | 365 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 358 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 290 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 279 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 346 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 266 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 259 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 256 |
| 5 | Washers | 240 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 233 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.8% | 1,948 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.4% | 1,926 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.4% | 1,461 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 963 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 902 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 752 |
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 | 110 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 486 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,354 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,422 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,173 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,189 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,609 | 22.5% |
| Diesel | 2,151 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,743 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 1,382 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 1,079 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 855 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 701 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 E-Class
On a 2001 E-Class, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Visibility (6.3% 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 5,760 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2001 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,760 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.