2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passed 90.0% of its 15,403 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.7 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 12.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and suspension (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and washers — ball joint alone was recorded 478 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 S-Class fails 6.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.2% of the time against 10.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 731 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.9% | 446 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 258 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 206 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 199 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 112 |
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 | 478 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 465 |
| 3 | Washers | 196 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 165 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 121 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 112 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.9% | 2,908 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,593 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,020 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 512 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 386 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 133 |
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 | 2,882 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,931 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,456 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,571 | 11.3% |
| 120-150k | 735 | 9.7% |
| 150k+ | 827 | 8.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,133 | 10.2% |
| Petrol | 2,525 | 9.2% |
| Hybrid | 743 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,254 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 3,203 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 3,030 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 3,010 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 2,906 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 S-Class
On a 2016 S-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Suspension (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Classs pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 15,403 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by suspension (2.9%).
Does the 2016 S-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 8.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,403 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.