2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
5,878 MOT tests on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are in this dataset, and 86.0% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 237 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 315 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 309 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 279 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 186 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 148 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 98 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 237 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 173 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 151 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 131 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 112 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 82 |
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 | 22.8% | 1,339 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.2% | 1,244 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 756 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 295 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 243 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.1% | 241 |
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 | 217 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 941 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,681 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,291 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 801 | 14.1% |
| 150k+ | 945 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,265 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 474 | 11.2% |
| Hybrid | 120 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,277 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 1,232 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 1,222 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 1,097 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 1,050 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 S-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Brakes (5.3% 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 (4.8% 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.
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Classs pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 5,878 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2013 S-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,878 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.