Mercedes-Benz SLK: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 9.1% of Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT tests — 32,386 tests out of 354,328. It shows up most on 2005 and 2007 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4,630 | 3.6% |
| 1998 | 7,208 | 5.4% |
| 1999 | 9,521 | 4.5% |
| 2000 | 12,123 | 5.0% |
| 2001 | 14,091 | 4.8% |
| 2002 | 12,257 | 4.4% |
| 2003 | 11,475 | 7.4% |
| 2004 | 19,843 | 12.6% |
| 2005 | 30,137 | 14.0% |
| 2006 | 23,127 | 13.9% |
| 2007 | 22,136 | 14.0% |
| 2008 | 20,039 | 13.4% |
| 2009 | 15,586 | 12.1% |
| 2010 | 12,840 | 11.6% |
| 2011 | 15,074 | 8.6% |
| 2012 | 33,408 | 8.6% |
| 2013 | 27,434 | 7.8% |
| 2014 | 28,281 | 6.5% |
| 2015 | 27,715 | 4.6% |
| 2016 | 7,027 | 3.0% |
Methodology & source. 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.