2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 122,684 MOT tests, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recorded an 88.7% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 10.8%, so the 2018 E-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and road wheels.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.5% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 3,868 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 E-Class fails 9.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 4.5pp more often than hybrid ones (12.2% vs 7.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 9,246 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.6% | 1,977 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 1,704 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,578 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 1,409 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 1,300 |
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 | 3,868 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,923 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,525 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,293 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,126 |
| 6 | Washers | 876 |
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 | 19.4% | 23,854 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 13,529 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 5,389 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 5,178 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 3,194 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 1,199 |
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 | 33,218 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 50,548 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 21,712 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 8,243 | 10.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,949 | 8.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,974 | 8.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 100,004 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 19,540 | 12.2% |
| Hybrid | 3,136 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,508 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 25,229 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 24,519 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 24,049 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 23,379 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 E-Class
On a 2018 E-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.5% 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 (1.6% 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.
- Road wheels (1.4% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
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 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 122,684 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (1.6%).
Does the 2018 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 8.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 122,684 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.