2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 78.8% of its 74,816 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 20.8%, so the 2010 E-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.8%) and brakes (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, coil spring and tread depth — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 3,959 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.3% versus 9.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (21.7% vs 17.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 7,322 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 5,749 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 4,926 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 4,539 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 2,011 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 1,105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,959 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,211 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,783 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,976 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,942 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,939 |
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 | 33.0% | 24,703 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.0% | 19,455 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.3% | 15,191 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 6,521 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,140 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,109 |
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 | 998 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,258 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 17,904 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 22,374 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 14,803 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 11,442 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 66,356 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 8,460 | 17.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,586 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 15,997 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 15,155 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 14,142 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 12,936 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 E-Class
On a 2010 E-Class, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Brakes (7.7% 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.
- Tyres (6.6% 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.
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 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 74,816 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2010 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,816 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.