2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
85,834 MOT tests on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are in this dataset, and 79.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (19.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.8%) and brakes (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, tread depth and coil spring — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,297 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.9% fail against 20.6% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 85,834 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.8% | 7,541 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 6,369 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 5,878 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 4,094 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 2,198 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,189 |
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 | 4,297 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,178 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,804 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,373 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,300 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,913 |
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 | 32.7% | 28,050 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 22,031 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.5% | 15,890 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 6,378 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 4,660 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 3,471 |
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 | 1,239 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,463 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 23,658 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 25,088 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 15,209 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 11,150 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 79,706 | 20.6% |
| Petrol | 6,128 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,429 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 18,105 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 17,573 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 16,412 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 15,315 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.8% 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 (7.4% 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 (6.9% 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.
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 85,834 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 2011 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,834 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.