1997 · 27 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

590 MOT tests in 2024. 67.0% passed first time, compared with 65.5% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time67.0%
Failed or needed repairs33.1%
Typical mileage at test86,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 590 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working5.4%
  2. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.9%
  3. Washers: not working2.9%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.7%
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.9%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.7%
  8. Headlamp aim: too low1.7%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics33.1%
  2. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.3%
  3. Brakes5.6%
  4. Tyres5.1%
  5. Seat belts & airbags4.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.7%
  7. Suspension3.7%
  8. Body & chassis3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.8%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.5%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.0%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.7%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.0%

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: stop lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All SLK years1998 SLK →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 67.0% of 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 590 tests. The average for all 27-year-old cars was 65.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; washers: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

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