Mercedes-Benz Motor/Caravan MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 41 model years and 1,302 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Motor/Caravan passes its MOT 79.4% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the Motor/Caravan comes out 4.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and brakes (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 87 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.2% in the 0-30k band and 26.2% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Motor/Caravan model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 85 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 59 | 62.7% | 37.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 36 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 44 | 95.5% | 4.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 39 | 64.1% | 35.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 77 | 83.1% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 120 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 110 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 99 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 87 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 51 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 77 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 61 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 31 | 96.8% | 3.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 182 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 148 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 65 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 60 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 52 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 37 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.1% | 28 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 22 |
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 | 87 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Wipers | 52 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 48 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 45 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 44 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 42 |
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 | 29.5% | 384 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.9% | 272 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 199 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 180 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.1% | 118 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.9% | 116 |
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 | 99 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 352 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 322 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 233 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 90 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 206 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,260 | 20.4% |
| Petrol | 42 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 301 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 267 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 248 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 249 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 237 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Motor/Caravan
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Motor/Caravan?
79.4% of the 1,302 Mercedes-Benz Motor/Caravan MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.6% fail rate, across model years 1981–2021.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Motor/Caravan most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, then brakes (11.4%).
How much does mileage affect Motor/Caravan MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.2% for 150k+, a 11.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,302 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.