2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,214 MOT tests, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class recorded an 80.6% pass rate. That is 4.8 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.7%) and lighting & signalling (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, joints and malfunction indicator lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 107 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.7% | 193 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 172 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 104 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 96 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 92 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.3% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 107 |
| 2 | Joints | 101 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 72 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 60 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 60 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 49 |
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 | 26.6% | 589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.7% | 525 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 329 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 314 |
| 5 | Suspension | 9.1% | 202 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.6% | 191 |
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 | 141 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 470 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 723 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 493 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 373 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 485 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 466 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 471 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 411 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 381 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 R-Class
On a 2011 R-Class, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.7% 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
How many 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Classs pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 2,214 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?
Brakes, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.8%).
Does the 2011 R-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,214 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.