2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

4,541 MOT tests in 2024. 57.5% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time57.5%
Failed or needed repairs42.5%
Typical mileage at test106,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,541 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken7.2%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.7%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
    244 marked dangerous
  5. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits3.2%
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.0%
  7. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.9%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.7%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
  10. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension29.1%
  2. Lights & electrics21.3%
  3. Emissions & leaks17.9%
  4. Brakes15.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.2%
  6. Tyres8.1%
  7. Body & chassis4.6%
  8. Steering4.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded21.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.2%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.6%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.6%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 57.5% of 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,541 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

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