Mercedes-Benz Hymer MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mercedes-Benz Hymer appears in 3,650 MOT tests spanning model years 1981–2023, and 85.5% of them passed. That is 3.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.3%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 190 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.7% in the 0-30k band and 26.7% in the 150k+ band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.8% in 2021 to 13.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Hymer model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 68 | 64.7% | 35.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 30 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 77 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 67 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 73 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 120 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 111 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 42 | 61.9% | 38.1% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 82 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 90 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 40 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 94 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 145 | 76.5% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 140 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 161 | 80.8% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 88 | 79.5% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 54 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 98 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 80 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 62 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 34 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 38 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 34 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 150 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 372 | 95.4% | 4.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 474 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 341 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 217 | 95.9% | 4.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 106 | 93.4% | 6.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 54 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 396 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 263 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 171 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 76 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 73 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 40 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.0% | 38 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 190 |
| 2 | Wipers | 157 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 130 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 98 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 82 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 80 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 77 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 65 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 21.7% | 793 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 391 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 277 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 226 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 201 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 168 |
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 | 1,534 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 654 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 532 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 364 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 240 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 318 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 612 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 683 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 747 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 778 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 830 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Hymer
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (4.7% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Hymer?
85.5% of the 3,650 Mercedes-Benz Hymer MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.5% fail rate, across model years 1981–2023.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Hymer most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, then brakes (7.2%).
How much does mileage affect Hymer MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.7% for 150k+, a 21.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,650 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.