2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,876 MOT tests, the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class recorded a 79.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.3%) and suspension (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 146 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.1% in the 0-30k band and 23.1% in the 150k+ band, a 7.0-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.2% fail against 22.3% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 2,876 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 17.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 295 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 244 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 202 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 140 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 137 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 101 |
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 | 146 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 137 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 121 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 115 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 111 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 106 |
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 | 33.6% | 966 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.8% | 771 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 739 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 398 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 347 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 325 |
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 | 81 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 276 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 556 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 786 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 578 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 533 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,758 | 19.2% |
| Diesel | 1,118 | 22.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 847 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 696 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 561 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 437 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 335 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 S-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% 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 (7.0% 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.
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 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Classs pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 2,876 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2002 S-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,876 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.