2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 88.6% of its 129,287 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (11.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 4,792 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 E-Class fails 8.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 8.6% fail against 12.2% for petrol, a 3.6-point gap across 12,227 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 8,850 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.5% | 3,286 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 2,472 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 1,733 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,704 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 1,477 |
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 | 4,792 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 3,168 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,394 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,569 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,389 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,044 |
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 | 20.0% | 25,869 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 16,638 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 7,416 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 5,959 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,945 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 1,023 |
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 | 16,141 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 49,680 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 32,750 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 14,620 | 12.2% |
| 120-150k | 7,123 | 9.9% |
| 150k+ | 8,931 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 117,055 | 11.4% |
| Petrol | 8,052 | 12.2% |
| Hybrid | 4,175 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,641 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 26,401 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 26,181 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 25,432 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 24,632 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.9% 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 (2.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 129,287 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by suspension (2.5%).
Does the 2017 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 129,287 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.