2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 77.0% of its 31,399 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.4 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.7%) and lighting & signalling (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — ball joint alone was recorded 2,632 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.6% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.2% fail against 23.9% for diesel, a 3.7-point gap across 31,399 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.7% | 3,675 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 3,206 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 2,729 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,738 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 1,004 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 915 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 2,632 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,714 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,463 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,195 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,146 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 982 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.3% | 11,399 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.5% | 9,576 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 8,472 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 4,634 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 3,697 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 2,546 |
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 | 275 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,318 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,571 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,528 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,097 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 12,422 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,694 | 23.9% |
| Petrol | 7,705 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,554 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 7,498 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 6,217 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 5,049 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 4,081 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.7% 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 (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 31,399 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 2004 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,399 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.