2019 Mercedes-Benz M8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 267 MOT tests, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz M8 recorded an 87.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 6.4% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, malfunction indicator lamp and rbt (sp) — coil spring alone was recorded 8 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 20.6% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.4% | 17 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 9 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 8 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 5 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 4 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 4 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 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 | 14.6% | 39 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.7% | 26 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 24 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 4 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 47 | 6.4% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 11.1% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 11.4% |
| 150k+ | 92 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 53 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 54 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 51 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 M8
On a 2019 M8, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
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 2019 Mercedes-Benz M8s pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 267 2019 Mercedes-Benz M8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz M8?
Suspension, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by brakes (3.4%).
Does the 2019 M8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 60-90k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.