2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

825 MOT tests in 2024. 72.0% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

123Well above average
Passed first time72.0%
Failed or needed repairs28.0%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 825 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.7%
  2. On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit4.0%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.9%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    33 marked dangerous
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.9%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  8. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side1.5%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5%
  10. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
    18 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes13.8%
  2. Suspension11.9%
  3. Emissions & leaks8.5%
  4. Lights & electrics7.9%
  5. Tyres6.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.8%
  7. Body & chassis2.1%
  8. Steering1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.5%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.3%

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.

← 2008 S-ClassAll S-Class years2010 S-Class →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

In 2024, 72.0% of 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 825 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; on or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 123, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).