2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
122,758 MOT tests on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.0%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and rigid brake pipes — tread depth alone was recorded 4,579 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.3% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (16.9% vs 14.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.0% | 9,812 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 6,501 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 5,747 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 3,333 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 2,132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 1,264 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,579 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,726 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,291 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,980 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 1,760 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,641 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.1% | 32,085 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.1% | 30,792 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 15,489 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 6,784 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 4,600 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 4,596 |
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 | 3,953 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 28,342 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 41,143 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 25,736 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 12,234 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 11,313 | 18.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 116,132 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 6,492 | 14.7% |
| Hybrid | 84 | 11.9% |
| Other | 37 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,231 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 25,005 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 24,910 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 24,257 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 23,355 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 E-Class
On a 2014 E-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.0% 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.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
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 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 122,758 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2014 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 122,758 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.