2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

330 MOT tests in 2024. 67.9% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

114Well above average
Passed first time67.9%
Failed or needed repairs32.1%
Typical mileage at test99,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 330 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.9%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.9%
  3. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.7%
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.4%
  5. Side repeaters: not working2.4%
  6. Position lamp: not working2.1%
  7. Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting2.1%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.8%
  9. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.8%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    9 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics21.5%
  2. Suspension18.2%
  3. Brakes10.9%
  4. Body & chassis8.5%
  5. Seat belts & airbags5.5%
  6. Tyres4.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.2%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.0%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.8%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.9%

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 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

In 2024, 67.9% of 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 330 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 114, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).