2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passed 94.6% of its 1,407 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 7.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests against 0.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 7 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2022 S-Class fails 5.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 69 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.4% | 5 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 3 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.2% | 3 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 3 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 4 | Size/type | 3 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3 |
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 | 11.4% | 160 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 30 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.3% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 556 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 540 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 230 | 3.9% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 6.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,191 | 5.2% |
| Diesel | 206 | 6.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 245 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 384 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 764 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 2022 S-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Visibility (0.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (0.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Classs pass their MOT?
94.6% of the 1,407 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (0.4%).
Does the 2022 S-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 6.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,407 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.