Mercedes-Benz E350d — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz E350d recorded a 88.3% MOT pass rate across 2,672 tests in this dataset (model years 2008–2021), with tyres, suspension and road wheels its most common failure areas. Its 11.8% fail rate is lower than the 16.4% average across all Mercedes-Benz E-Class versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 84 | 90.5% | 9.5% |
| 2010 | 170 | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| 2011 | 66 | 84.9% | 15.2% |
| 2012 | 52 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2019 | 650 | 88.8% | 11.2% |
| 2020 | 1,479 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2021 | 86 | 91.9% | 8.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 197 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.9% | 52 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 1.8% | 49 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 19 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 15 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 9 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 44 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
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 | 18.4% | 491 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 245 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 219 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.6% | 96 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 82 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.7% | 46 |
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 | 932 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,084 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 321 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 209 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 92 | 13.0% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 285 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 753 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 785 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 764 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz E350d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 (1.9% 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 (1.8% 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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz E350d at MOT time?
88.3% of the 2,672 Mercedes-Benz E350d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate, better than the 16.4% average across all E-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz E350d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by suspension (1.9%).
Does the E350d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,672 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.