2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 119,956 MOT tests, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recorded an 87.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 12.7%, so the 2016 E-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.3% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 4,022 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 E-Class fails 9.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 12.5% of the time against 13.4% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 8,735 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.7% | 3,188 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 2,862 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 2,704 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 1,935 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 1,045 |
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 | 4,022 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,552 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,572 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,448 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,441 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,111 |
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 | 22.2% | 26,683 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.2% | 18,220 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 8,727 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 5,780 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,533 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 1,853 |
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 | 10,329 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 42,907 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 32,941 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 15,961 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,598 | 11.9% |
| 150k+ | 10,168 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 115,906 | 12.5% |
| Petrol | 3,995 | 13.4% |
| Hybrid | 54 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,695 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 24,489 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 24,317 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 23,560 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 22,895 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 E-Class
On a 2016 E-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.3% 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 (2.7% 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.
- Brakes (2.4% 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.
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 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 119,956 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by suspension (2.7%).
Does the 2016 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 119,956 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.