2018 · 6 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

20,808 MOT tests in 2024. 84.3% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time84.3%
Failed or needed repairs15.7%
Typical mileage at test56,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 20,808 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.4%
    750 marked dangerous
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
    828 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.7%
  5. Road Wheels - condition: fractured1.4%
    487 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.3%
    374 marked dangerous
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.1%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.8%
    260 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: too high0.5%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%
    186 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres9.5%
  2. Suspension2.7%
  3. Lights & electrics2.0%
  4. Wheels1.8%
  5. Brakes1.7%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.3%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.7%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.9%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.5%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened3.7%
  5. Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn3.4%

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: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

In 2024, 84.3% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 20,808 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).