2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

14,311 MOT tests in 2024. 70.9% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time70.9%
Failed or needed repairs29.1%
Typical mileage at test100,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 14,311 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.4%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.4%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    659 marked dangerous
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    451 marked dangerous
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.8%
  10. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension14.8%
  2. Brakes14.4%
  3. Tyres9.5%
  4. Lights & electrics6.6%
  5. Emissions & leaks3.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.7%
  7. Seat belts & airbags1.2%
  8. Body & chassis1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.6%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.7%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine5.7%

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: rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

In 2024, 70.9% of 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 14,311 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

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

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-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).