2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
91,787 MOT tests on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are in this dataset, and 79.8% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 18.4% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. 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 5,062 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (20.5% vs 16.1%) — 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 — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.8% | 8,078 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 6,818 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.1% | 6,501 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 3,668 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 2,456 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 1,187 |
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 | 5,062 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,325 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,936 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,391 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,172 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,946 |
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% | 30,251 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 23,967 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.6% | 16,198 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 5,063 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.5% | 5,002 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 3,653 |
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 | 1,492 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 12,565 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 27,321 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 25,080 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 13,912 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 11,390 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 86,630 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 5,094 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,330 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 19,087 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 18,539 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 17,840 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 16,991 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 E-Class
On a 2012 E-Class, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (7.1% 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 91,787 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 2012 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 91,787 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.