2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

3,602 MOT tests in 2024. 68.0% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time68.0%
Failed or needed repairs31.9%
Typical mileage at test78,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,602 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.6%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.1%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened4.1%
  4. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.1%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.4%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
    134 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.1%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.8%
  10. Washers: not working1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension22.5%
  2. Brakes11.4%
  3. Lights & electrics8.9%
  4. Tyres5.9%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.1%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.6%
  8. Body & chassis2.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded14.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.2%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.1%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 68.0% of 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,602 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).