2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passed 84.6% of its 5,653 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.2 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.4%) and suspension (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, ball joint and tread depth — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 236 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 15.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.7-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.3% of the time against 15.5% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.4% | 361 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.9% | 332 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 283 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 264 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 162 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 236 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 234 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 195 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 175 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 130 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 121 |
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 | 25.9% | 1,462 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 1,284 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.9% | 1,071 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 389 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 286 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 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 | 156 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 749 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,457 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,474 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 908 | 14.5% |
| 150k+ | 909 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,866 | 15.5% |
| Petrol | 787 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,249 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 1,179 | 14.7% |
| 2023 | 1,123 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 1,077 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 1,025 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 S-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Classs pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 5,653 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Brakes, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.9%).
Does the 2011 S-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,653 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.