1997 · 27 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

700 MOT tests in 2024. 70.4% passed first time, compared with 65.5% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time70.4%
Failed or needed repairs29.6%
Typical mileage at test115,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 700 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  2. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.1%
  3. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated2.3%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.9%
  5. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour1.7%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  7. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced1.4%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
    27 marked dangerous
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics20.7%
  2. Suspension12.3%
  3. Brakes11.7%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.4%
  6. Body & chassis4.3%
  7. Tyres3.9%
  8. Steering2.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.6%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened19.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.1%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.9%
  5. Transmission oil leaks: leaking excessively from transmission11.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 1996 C-ClassAll C-Class years1998 C-Class →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 70.4% of 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 700 tests. The average for all 27-year-old cars was 65.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength; flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).