1996 · 28 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

109 MOT tests in 2024. 78.9% passed first time, compared with 66.2% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time78.9%
Failed or needed repairs21.1%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 109 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.5%
  2. Headlamp aim: too low2.8%
  3. Stop lamp: all not working1.8%
    7 marked dangerous
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    5 marked dangerous
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.8%
  6. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.8%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  8. Washers: not working1.8%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics14.7%
  2. Suspension11.9%
  3. Brakes9.2%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.3%
  6. Tyres4.6%
  7. Body & chassis1.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine22.9%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.8%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened7.3%
  4. Transmission oil leaks: leaking excessively from transmission6.4%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.4%

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: linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All S-Class years1997 S-Class →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

In 2024, 78.9% of 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 109 tests. The average for all 28-year-old cars was 66.2%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The most common failure reasons were linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; headlamp aim: too low; stop lamp: all not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 119, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).