2021 Mercedes-Benz Eqa 350 4Matic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 703 MOT tests, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Eqa 350 4Matic recorded a 92.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), the 2021 Eqa 350 4Matic comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests against 1.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 11 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.0% | 7 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 6 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 1 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 11 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 3 | Washers | 5 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 3 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 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 | 19.6% | 138 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.4% | 31 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.6% | 18 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 450 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 232 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 345 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 353 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Eqa 350 4Matic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Visibility (1.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% 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 many 2021 Mercedes-Benz Eqa 350 4Matics pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 703 2021 Mercedes-Benz Eqa 350 4Matic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Eqa 350 4Matic?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by visibility (1.0%).
Does the 2021 Eqa 350 4Matic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 703 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.