MOT Results

Honest John Classics MOT Results » Mercedes-Benz » S-Class
Selling your classic car? It's FREE to list your car on Honest John Classics | No thanks

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT Results

74.9% pass rate
from 2,023 tests in 2021
Number of tests by age
More MoT Results
Failure rates by item

Here you can drill down into the failure rates for each item on the test. We've also compared the rates to the average results for pre-1990 cars and highlighted areas where the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is unusually good or bad.

  • 11% fail on Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (15% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 3.7% fail on Headlamp aim
      • 3.7% fail on Headlamp aim
    • 2.6% fail on Direction indicators
      • 2.6% fail on Flashing type
        • 1.6% fail on Individual direction indicators
        • 0.89% fail on Side repeaters
        • 0.20% fail on All direction indicators
    • 2.3% fail on Headlamps
      • 2.1% fail on Headlamp
      • 0.25% fail on Headlamp levelling device (4 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 2.3% fail on Front and rear fog lamps
      • 2.3% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 2.2% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 0.049% fail on Switch
    • 1.3% fail on Stop lamp (48% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.99% fail on Electrical equipment (46% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.59% fail on Battery(ies)
      • 0.40% fail on Horn (66% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.74% fail on Registration plate lamp(s)
    • 0.64% fail on Mandatory tell-tales
      • 0.59% fail on Rear fog lamp tell-tale (120% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.049% fail on Main beam tell-tale
    • 0.44% fail on Hazard warning
      • 0.44% fail on Switch
    • 0.099% fail on Position lamps
      • 0.099% fail on Position lamp
  • 8.2% fail on Suspension
    • 3.4% fail on Suspension arms (92% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 2.0% fail on Ball joint dust cover (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.69% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.54% fail on Suspension arm (3 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.40% fail on Pins and bushes
    • 2.7% fail on Component mounting prescribed areas
    • 1.3% fail on Anti-roll bars (120% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.49% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting (4 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.30% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.15% fail on Linkage pins and bushes
      • 0.15% fail on Linkage ball joints
      • 0.15% fail on Linkage attachment bracket and mounting (8 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.099% fail on Linkage
      • 0.099% fail on Linkage ball joint dust cover
      • 0.049% fail on Anti-roll bar
    • 0.94% fail on Springs
      • 0.79% fail on Coil springs (120% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.74% fail on Coil spring (130% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.049% fail on Mounting
      • 0.15% fail on Spring mounting prescribed areas
    • 0.59% fail on Wheel bearings (57% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.49% fail on Sub-frames
      • 0.25% fail on Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
      • 0.15% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.049% fail on Sub-frame
      • 0.049% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
    • 0.35% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.35% fail on Ball joint dust cover (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.049% fail on Ball joint
    • 0.20% fail on Shock absorbers
    • 0.099% fail on Macpherson strut
      • 0.049% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
      • 0.049% fail on Ball joint dust cover
    • 0.099% fail on Suspension rods
      • 0.049% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.049% fail on Ball joint dust cover
    • 0.049% fail on Axles
      • 0.049% fail on Swivel pins and bushes
    • 0.049% fail on Air/gas/fluid suspension
      • 0.049% fail on Operation
  • 7.7% fail on Brakes
    • 4.7% fail on Brake performance (30% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 2.5% fail on Service brake performance
        • 2.3% fail on Rbt
          • 2.1% fail on Service brake performance
          • 0.44% fail on Service brake imbalance
        • 0.099% fail on Decelerometer
          • 0.099% fail on Service brake performance
        • 0.049% fail on Plate brake tester
          • 0.049% fail on Service brake performance
      • 1.8% fail on Parking brake efficiency (sp) (35% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 1.6% fail on Rbt (sp) (35% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.15% fail on Decelerometer (sp)
      • 1.6% fail on Service Brake Efficiency (sp) (47% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 1.6% fail on Rbt (sp) (45% better than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 0.99% fail on Service brake performance
          • 0.94% fail on Service brake imbalance (53% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.54% fail on Parking brake performance
        • 0.49% fail on Rbt
          • 0.49% fail on Parking brake performance
        • 0.049% fail on Plate brake tester
          • 0.049% fail on Parking brake performance
      • 0.20% fail on Brake performance not tested
    • 1.3% fail on Rigid brake pipes
    • 1.1% fail on ABS / EBS / ESC (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.1% fail on Anti-lock braking system (7 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.54% fail on Mechanical brake components
      • 0.49% fail on Brake linings and pads
        • 0.49% fail on Brake pads
      • 0.049% fail on Brake discs and drums
        • 0.049% fail on Brake discs
      • 0.049% fail on Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages
        • 0.049% fail on Brake slack adjuster
    • 0.44% fail on Hydraulic systems
      • 0.40% fail on Brake fluid (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.049% fail on Valves
    • 0.25% fail on Parking brake control
      • 0.25% fail on Lever
    • 0.20% fail on Brake actuators (including spring brakes or hydraulic cylinders)
      • 0.20% fail on Hydraulic brake callipers
    • 0.15% fail on Load sensing valves
    • 0.15% fail on Other components and prescribed areas
      • 0.15% fail on Prescribed areas
        • 0.15% fail on Other braking system component
    • 0.099% fail on Service brake pedal or hand lever (81% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.049% fail on Pedal
      • 0.049% fail on Hand lever
    • 0.049% fail on Flexible brake hoses
  • 6.3% fail on Body, chassis, structure
    • 2.1% fail on Exhaust system
    • 1.3% fail on Seats (100% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.1% fail on Driver's seat (130% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.89% fail on Passenger's seat (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.84% fail on Integral vehicle structure
      • 0.84% fail on Integral vehicle structure condition
    • 0.84% fail on Chassis
      • 0.84% fail on Chassis condition
    • 0.74% fail on Fuel system
      • 0.40% fail on Pipe
      • 0.15% fail on Hose
      • 0.15% fail on Fuel cap/sealing device
      • 0.049% fail on Tank
    • 0.64% fail on Transmission (52% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.40% fail on Prop shafts
        • 0.20% fail on Flexible couplings (7 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.099% fail on Prop shaft
        • 0.099% fail on Joints
      • 0.25% fail on Drive shafts (76% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.25% fail on Joints (76% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.30% fail on Body
      • 0.20% fail on Panel
      • 0.099% fail on Other body component
    • 0.25% fail on Floor
    • 0.20% fail on Cabs
      • 0.20% fail on Prescribed areas
    • 0.099% fail on Bumpers
  • 5.7% fail on Visibility
    • 3.6% fail on Washers
    • 2.5% fail on Wipers
    • 0.15% fail on Bonnet
    • 0.049% fail on View to rear
      • 0.049% fail on Mirrors
  • 3.6% fail on Noise, emissions and leaks
    • 3.4% fail on Exhaust emissions
      • 2.9% fail on Spark ignition
        • 2.2% fail on Non catalyst emissions
        • 0.44% fail on Catalyst emissions
        • 0.25% fail on Emissions not tested
      • 0.49% fail on Compression ignition
        • 0.30% fail on Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo
        • 0.099% fail on Pre 01/07/2008 Non turbo
        • 0.099% fail on Emissions not tested
        • 0.049% fail on On or after 01/07/2008
    • 0.25% fail on Fluid leaks
      • 0.099% fail on Engine oil leaks
      • 0.099% fail on Transmission oil leaks
      • 0.049% fail on Hydraulic fluid leaks
    • 0.049% fail on Noise suppression
      • 0.049% fail on Sound deadening material
  • 2.2% fail on Steering (38% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 1.8% fail on Steering linkage components
      • 1.2% fail on Track rod end
      • 0.54% fail on Drag link end
      • 0.20% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.049% fail on Locking devices
    • 0.20% fail on Power steering
      • 0.15% fail on Other components
      • 0.049% fail on Operation
      • 0.049% fail on Pipes and hoses
    • 0.099% fail on Prescribed areas
    • 0.099% fail on Steering play
      • 0.099% fail on Steering box
    • 0.049% fail on Steering wheel
    • 0.049% fail on Steering coupling
      • 0.049% fail on Flexible coupling
  • 1.9% fail on Tyres
    • 1.3% fail on Condition (83% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.54% fail on Tread depth
  • 1.1% fail on Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems
    • 1.1% fail on Seat belts
      • 0.69% fail on Prescribed areas
      • 0.40% fail on Condition
      • 0.049% fail on Attachment
  • 0.54% fail on Identification of the vehicle
    • 0.54% fail on Registration plates
  • 0.25% fail on Speedometer and speed limiter
    • 0.25% fail on Speedometer
  • 0.15% fail on Road Wheels
    • 0.099% fail on Attachment
    • 0.049% fail on Condition
Read the Honest John Review