2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class passed 79.7% of its 1,428 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 5.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and brakes (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, rbt (sp) and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 70 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 R-Class fails 18.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 20.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.7% in 2021 to 17.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 132 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 122 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 74 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 68 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 52 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 48 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 70 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 45 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 42 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 36 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 28 |
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 | 27.7% | 396 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.7% | 353 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 269 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.6% | 209 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 206 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 129 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 83 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 252 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 429 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 349 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 302 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 322 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 313 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 301 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 272 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 220 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 R-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 (5.2% 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Classs pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 1,428 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2010 R-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 30-60k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,428 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.