Comparison · executive cars

Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Volkswagen Passat: which is more reliable?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen Passat are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 104. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 552,828 real MOT tests in 2024.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

106Above average
MOT tests366,830

Volkswagen Passat

104Above average
MOT tests185,998

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at testMercedes-Benz C-ClassVolkswagen Passat
3–5 years
102About average
102About average
6–9 years
105Above average
104Above average
10–14 years
107Above average
103Above average
15+ years
106Above average
105Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearMercedes-Benz C-ClassVolkswagen Passat
202186.8%86.6%
202087.7%88.7%
201987.0%86.9%
201884.8%85.5%
201782.5%81.9%
201680.8%79.9%
201578.7%78.0%
201476.4%71.6%
201369.9%68.0%
201267.8%65.7%
201167.7%64.6%
201065.8%62.5%
200963.6%63.9%
200862.7%61.0%
200761.1%59.3%
200658.6%56.8%
200557.9%57.9%
200457.0%58.5%
200357.5%57.3%
200260.9%57.6%
200161.5%56.5%
200067.3%55.0%
199971.1%57.9%
199870.7%54.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaMercedes-Benz C-ClassVolkswagen Passat
Suspension13.014.5
Lights & electrics8.211.0
Tyres8.89.8
Brakes9.37.7
Emissions & leaks4.24.1
Body & chassis1.24.6
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.83.0
Seat belts & airbags1.01.7

Mercedes-Benz C-Class: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.6%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%

Volkswagen Passat: top failures

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  6. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Volkswagen Passat?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen Passat are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 104. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen Passat can be compared?

Both were tested for 24 registration years (1998–2021). The Mercedes-Benz C-Class had the higher pass rate in 19 of them and the Volkswagen Passat in 5.

What fails most on each?

Mercedes-Benz C-Class: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Volkswagen Passat: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken.