2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 89.6% of its 98,654 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, road wheels and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 3,010 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 E-Class fails 9.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 10.0% fail against 11.9% for petrol, a 1.9-point gap across 93,921 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 7,217 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 1.5% | 1,512 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.3% | 1,291 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 978 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 845 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 794 |
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 | 3,010 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,371 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 974 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 804 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 559 |
| 6 | Washers | 450 |
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 | 19.0% | 18,719 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 9,189 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 3,837 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.7% | 3,614 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 2,558 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 817 |
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 | 31,375 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 40,565 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 14,926 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,908 | 8.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,922 | 7.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,937 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 75,474 | 10.0% |
| Petrol | 18,447 | 11.9% |
| Hybrid | 4,733 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,080 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 24,569 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 24,237 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 23,483 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 23,285 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Road wheels (1.5% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Suspension (1.3% 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 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 98,654 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by road wheels (1.5%).
Does the 2019 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,654 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.