2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 117,048 MOT tests, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recorded an 80.8% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.7%) and suspension (7.3%) 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 4,812 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.7% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 150k+ band, a 11.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.0% fail against 19.4% for diesel, a 4.5-point gap across 116,824 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 9,047 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 8,578 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 8,066 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 3,958 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 2,453 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 1,555 |
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 | 4,812 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,810 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 4,106 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,030 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,996 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,966 |
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 | 30.2% | 35,344 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 30,801 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.5% | 18,142 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 6,530 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 5,013 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 4,429 |
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 | 2,208 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 20,466 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 38,248 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 29,477 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 14,244 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 12,373 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 111,488 | 19.4% |
| Petrol | 5,336 | 15.0% |
| Hybrid | 152 | 21.7% |
| Electric | 48 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,370 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 24,149 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 23,721 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 22,871 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 21,937 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.7% 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.
- Suspension (7.3% 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 (6.9% 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 117,048 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2013 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 117,048 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.