2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

13,822 MOT tests in 2024. 65.8% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time65.8%
Failed or needed repairs34.2%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 13,822 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.0%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    685 marked dangerous
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.2%
  8. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    301 marked dangerous
  10. Side repeaters: not working1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension21.4%
  2. Lights & electrics16.1%
  3. Brakes15.6%
  4. Tyres8.5%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.1%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.7%
  7. Body & chassis2.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.9%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.5%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 65.8% of 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 13,822 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).