2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 127,029 MOT tests, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recorded an 85.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (14.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 3.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 4,198 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.7% versus 9.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.7% fail against 14.8% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 126,988 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 9,621 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 4,780 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 4,438 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 3,666 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 3,248 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 1,034 |
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 | 4,198 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,411 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,091 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,932 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,477 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,455 |
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 | 24.9% | 31,634 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 23,131 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 13,706 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 6,661 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 5,087 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 4,100 |
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 | 6,285 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 36,833 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 38,953 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 21,099 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 10,192 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 13,647 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 120,734 | 14.8% |
| Petrol | 6,254 | 12.7% |
| Hybrid | 41 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,933 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 25,811 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 25,726 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 25,220 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 24,339 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 (3.5% 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 127,029 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 2015 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 127,029 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.