2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

916 MOT tests in 2024. 78.2% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

126Well above average
Passed first time78.2%
Failed or needed repairs21.8%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 916 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.3%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    47 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
    23 marked dangerous
  7. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault1.3%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes9.3%
  2. Suspension7.8%
  3. Tyres7.1%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.7%
  5. Lights & electrics4.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.7%
  7. Steering0.8%
  8. Body & chassis0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.8%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.0%
  4. Wheel bearings: has excessive play8.3%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.0%

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: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

In 2024, 78.2% of 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 916 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 126, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).