Mercedes-Benz E-Class: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 5.7% of Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests — 80,763 tests out of 1,416,902. It shows up most on 1985 and 2003 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 308 | 11.4% |
| 1985 | 262 | 12.6% |
| 1992 | 255 | 2.8% |
| 1993 | 1,135 | 4.9% |
| 1994 | 4,293 | 7.4% |
| 1995 | 4,818 | 7.0% |
| 1996 | 3,374 | 7.7% |
| 1997 | 2,267 | 8.3% |
| 1998 | 4,100 | 7.8% |
| 1999 | 3,832 | 10.1% |
| 2000 | 4,305 | 9.4% |
| 2001 | 5,760 | 9.8% |
| 2002 | 7,949 | 10.9% |
| 2003 | 23,401 | 12.2% |
| 2004 | 31,399 | 11.7% |
| 2005 | 30,698 | 11.7% |
| 2006 | 26,420 | 10.9% |
| 2007 | 37,791 | 10.4% |
| 2008 | 29,628 | 10.5% |
| 2009 | 45,643 | 10.9% |
| 2010 | 74,816 | 9.8% |
| 2011 | 85,834 | 8.8% |
| 2012 | 91,787 | 8.8% |
| 2013 | 117,048 | 7.3% |
| 2014 | 122,758 | 4.7% |
| 2015 | 127,029 | 3.5% |
| 2016 | 119,956 | 2.7% |
| 2017 | 129,287 | 2.5% |
| 2018 | 122,684 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 98,654 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 37,263 | 0.8% |
| 2021 | 15,579 | 0.4% |
Methodology & source. 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.