Mercedes-Benz E220d — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz E220d passed 89.2% of its 26,203 MOT tests, covering model years 2001–2025. That is 5.6 percentage points better than the 16.4% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz E-Class versions, so the E220d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, road wheels and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 559 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the E220d fails 9.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 32 | 71.9% | 28.1% |
| 2008 | 32 | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 2012 | 40 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2013 | 74 | 70.3% | 29.7% |
| 2014 | 82 | 85.4% | 14.6% |
| 2015 | 121 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 2016 | 289 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2017 | 304 | 92.8% | 7.2% |
| 2018 | 218 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
| 2019 | 8,180 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2020 | 8,594 | 88.4% | 11.6% |
| 2021 | 6,146 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 1,793 | 90.7% | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 115 | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 83 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 1,984 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 2.3% | 612 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 252 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.9% | 240 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.9% | 224 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 219 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 67 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 69 |
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 | 559 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 239 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 227 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 200 |
| 5 | Wipers | 113 |
| 6 | Washers | 113 |
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 | 16.6% | 4,361 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 2,144 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.7% | 980 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 842 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 640 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 293 |
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 | 8,394 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 11,172 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,793 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,424 | 10.2% |
| 120-150k | 710 | 8.5% |
| 150k+ | 708 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 280 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 2,847 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 5,784 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 8,157 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 9,135 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz E220d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.6% 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 (2.3% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Lighting & signalling (1.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz E220d at MOT time?
89.2% of the 26,203 Mercedes-Benz E220d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate, better than the 16.4% average across all E-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz E220d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by road wheels (2.3%).
Does the E220d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,203 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.