2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class passed 95.6% of its 411 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 5.5% of the time, so this is 1.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, road wheels and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and road wheels (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, size/type and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 2 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 0.0% in the 60-90k band, a 7.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 13 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 5 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.5% | 2 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 2 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 1 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2 |
| 2 | Size/type | 2 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 2 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
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 | 8.5% | 35 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.7% | 7 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.2% | 5 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 4 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 3 |
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 | 185 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 131 | 3.0% |
| 60-90k | 61 | 0.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 323 | 4.3% |
| Hybrid | 84 | 4.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 117 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 265 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a 2023 E-Class
On a 2023 E-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 (1.2% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Visibility (0.5% 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs pass their MOT?
95.6% of the 411 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by road wheels (1.2%).
Does the 2023 E-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 0.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 411 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.