2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

19,787 MOT tests in 2024. 67.7% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time67.7%
Failed or needed repairs32.3%
Typical mileage at test106,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 19,787 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    934 marked dangerous
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.8%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.5%
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.4%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.1%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%
    456 marked dangerous
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
  10. Anti-roll bars - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension19.2%
  2. Brakes17.7%
  3. Lights & electrics10.8%
  4. Tyres8.4%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.1%
  7. Body & chassis1.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.4%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.7%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.2%

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.

← 2010 C-ClassAll C-Class years2012 C-Class →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 67.7% of 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 19,787 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).