2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,631 MOT tests, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recorded a 91.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (9.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, road wheels and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 2.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 78 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2022 E-Class fails 9.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.8% of the time against 8.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 277 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 2.4% | 110 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 39 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 34 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 28 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 14 |
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 | 78 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 22 |
| 4 | Wipers | 20 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 20 |
| 6 | Washers | 16 |
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 | 15.4% | 715 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 194 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.1% | 144 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 107 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 44 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 33 |
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 | 2,197 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,503 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 528 | 6.4% |
| 90-120k | 225 | 4.9% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 1.4% |
| 150k+ | 105 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,198 | 8.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,272 | 8.8% |
| Petrol | 159 | 5.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 93 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 324 | 3.7% |
| 2024 | 595 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 3,619 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2022 E-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (2.4% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Visibility (0.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 4,631 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by road wheels (2.4%).
Does the 2022 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,631 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.