Mercedes-Benz Motorhome MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 43 model years and 3,492 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Motorhome passes its MOT 79.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 5.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 201 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.0% versus 12.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Motorhome model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 44 | 61.4% | 38.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 61 | 60.7% | 39.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 52 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 88 | 62.5% | 37.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 108 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 43 | 60.5% | 39.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 71 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 31 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 35 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 47 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 51 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 32 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 93 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 141 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 139 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 171 | 80.1% | 19.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 253 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 260 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 297 | 84.2% | 15.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 270 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 266 | 83.1% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 280 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 179 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 136 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 81 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 55 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 38 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 373 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 153 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 141 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.8% | 131 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 91 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.9% | 65 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 52 |
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 | 201 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 167 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 154 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 123 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 113 |
| 6 | Wipers | 107 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 104 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 99 |
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 | 26.7% | 933 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.6% | 614 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 425 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.0% | 313 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 304 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 235 |
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 | 231 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,147 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 923 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 441 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 247 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 493 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 731 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 710 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 716 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 692 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 643 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Motorhome
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 (4.4% 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 Motorhome?
79.8% of the 3,492 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.2% fail rate, across model years 1980–2022.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Motorhome most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, then brakes (10.7%).
How much does mileage affect Motorhome MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.0% for 150k+, a 15.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,492 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.