MOT Results

Honest John Classics MOT Results » Mercedes-Benz » S-Class
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Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT Results

72.7% pass rate
from 2,572 tests in 2020
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.

  • 12% fail on Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
    • 4.2% fail on Headlamp aim
      • 4.2% fail on Headlamp aim
      • 0.12% fail on Headlamp aim not tested
    • 2.5% fail on Front and rear fog lamps
      • 2.4% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 2.3% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 0.58% fail on Switch (170% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.078% fail on Front fog lamps (35 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.039% fail on Front fog lamps
        • 0.039% fail on Front fog lamp switch
    • 2.2% fail on Direction indicators
      • 2.2% fail on Flashing type
        • 1.1% fail on Individual direction indicators
        • 0.74% fail on Side repeaters
        • 0.39% fail on All direction indicators
        • 0.039% fail on Switch
    • 2.1% fail on Headlamps (29% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.7% fail on Headlamp (40% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.35% fail on Headlamp levelling device (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.039% fail on Dipswitch
    • 1.5% fail on Stop lamp (39% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 1.3% fail on Position lamps
      • 1.2% fail on Position lamp
      • 0.12% fail on All position lamps
      • 0.039% fail on Switch
    • 1.2% fail on Electrical equipment (49% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.62% fail on Battery(ies)
      • 0.58% fail on Horn (63% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.89% fail on Registration plate lamp(s)
    • 0.66% fail on Mandatory tell-tales
      • 0.58% fail on Rear fog lamp tell-tale (100% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.078% fail on Main beam tell-tale
    • 0.47% fail on Hazard warning
      • 0.47% fail on Switch
  • 8.3% fail on Suspension
    • 2.8% fail on Suspension arms (50% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.5% fail on Ball joint dust cover (180% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.58% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.47% fail on Suspension arm (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.35% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.19% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
    • 2.8% fail on Component mounting prescribed areas
    • 1.1% fail on Springs
      • 0.89% fail on Coil springs (140% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.86% fail on Coil spring (160% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.039% fail on Mounting
      • 0.19% fail on Spring mounting prescribed areas
    • 0.93% fail on Wheel bearings
    • 0.86% fail on Anti-roll bars
      • 0.31% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting (200% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.12% fail on Linkage pins and bushes
      • 0.12% fail on Ball joint dust cover
      • 0.078% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.078% fail on Linkage
      • 0.078% fail on Linkage ball joints
      • 0.039% fail on Anti-roll bar
      • 0.039% fail on Linkage ball joint dust cover
    • 0.86% fail on Sub-frames
      • 0.62% fail on Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas (100% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.19% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.039% fail on Sub-frame
      • 0.039% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
    • 0.51% fail on Shock absorbers
    • 0.43% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.27% fail on Ball joint dust cover
      • 0.12% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.039% fail on Other suspension component
    • 0.19% fail on Air/gas/fluid suspension (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.078% fail on Suspension unit
      • 0.078% fail on Pipes (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.039% fail on Levelling valve
    • 0.16% fail on Axles
      • 0.039% fail on Axle
      • 0.039% fail on King pins
      • 0.039% fail on Swivel joints/housing
      • 0.039% fail on Swivel pins and bushes
    • 0.078% fail on Suspension rods
      • 0.039% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.039% fail on Ball joint dust cover
  • 8.1% fail on Brakes
    • 4.6% fail on Brake performance (36% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 2.3% fail on Service brake performance (32% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 2.3% fail on Rbt (30% better than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 2.1% fail on Service brake performance
          • 0.27% fail on Service brake imbalance (67% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 2.1% fail on Parking brake efficiency (sp) (30% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 2.1% fail on Rbt (sp)
      • 1.3% fail on Service Brake Efficiency (sp) (57% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 1.3% fail on Rbt (sp) (55% better than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 0.82% fail on Service brake performance
          • 0.51% fail on Service brake imbalance (75% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.82% fail on Parking brake performance
        • 0.82% fail on Rbt
          • 0.66% fail on Parking brake performance
          • 0.16% fail on Parking (secondary brake performance)
      • 0.039% fail on Brake performance not tested
    • 1.8% fail on Rigid brake pipes (47% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 1.0% fail on ABS / EBS / ESC (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.0% fail on Anti-lock braking system (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.078% fail on Electronic stability control (17 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.97% fail on Mechanical brake components
      • 0.66% fail on Brake linings and pads
        • 0.66% fail on Brake pads
      • 0.23% fail on Brake discs and drums
        • 0.19% fail on Brake discs
        • 0.039% fail on Brake drums
      • 0.078% fail on Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages
        • 0.078% fail on Cable
    • 0.62% fail on Flexible brake hoses
    • 0.51% fail on Hydraulic systems
      • 0.47% fail on Brake fluid (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.039% fail on Valves
    • 0.31% fail on Service brake pedal or hand lever
      • 0.19% fail on Hand lever
      • 0.12% fail on Pedal
    • 0.16% fail on Load sensing valves
    • 0.12% fail on Parking brake control
      • 0.12% fail on Lever
    • 0.12% fail on Brake actuators (including spring brakes or hydraulic cylinders)
      • 0.078% fail on Hydraulic brake callipers
      • 0.039% fail on Hydraulic brake cylinder
    • 0.12% fail on Other components and prescribed areas
      • 0.12% fail on Prescribed areas
        • 0.078% fail on Master cylinder/servo mounting
        • 0.039% fail on Other braking system component
  • 7.0% fail on Body, chassis, structure
    • 2.6% fail on Exhaust system
    • 1.4% fail on Fuel system
      • 0.89% fail on Pipe (170% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.23% fail on System
      • 0.12% fail on Fuel cap/sealing device
      • 0.078% fail on Tank
      • 0.078% fail on Hose
    • 1.1% fail on Chassis
      • 1.1% fail on Chassis condition
    • 0.93% fail on Integral vehicle structure
      • 0.93% fail on Integral vehicle structure condition
    • 0.70% fail on Seats
      • 0.66% fail on Driver's seat
      • 0.43% fail on Passenger's seat
    • 0.39% fail on Transmission (71% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.23% fail on Prop shafts
        • 0.16% fail on Flexible couplings (5 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.039% fail on Prop shaft
        • 0.039% fail on Joints
      • 0.16% fail on Drive shafts (85% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.16% fail on Joints (85% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.23% fail on Body
      • 0.078% fail on Body condition
      • 0.078% fail on Panel
      • 0.078% fail on Other body component
    • 0.12% fail on Bumpers
    • 0.12% fail on Doors (77% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.12% fail on Other passenger's door
        • 0.12% fail on Door condition
    • 0.12% fail on Floor
    • 0.039% fail on Towbar
      • 0.039% fail on Vehicle structure
    • 0.039% fail on Engine mounting
      • 0.039% fail on Engine mounting condition
  • 5.4% fail on Visibility
    • 3.4% fail on Washers
    • 2.2% fail on Wipers
    • 0.12% fail on Bonnet
    • 0.078% fail on Condition of glass
      • 0.078% fail on Windscreen
  • 3.7% fail on Noise, emissions and leaks
    • 3.0% fail on Exhaust emissions
      • 2.7% fail on Spark ignition
        • 2.2% fail on Non catalyst emissions
        • 0.43% fail on Catalyst emissions
        • 0.078% fail on Emissions not tested (78% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.39% fail on Compression ignition
        • 0.12% fail on Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo
        • 0.12% fail on Pre 01/07/2008 Non turbo
        • 0.12% fail on Emissions not tested
        • 0.039% fail on On or after 01/01/2014
    • 0.70% fail on Fluid leaks
      • 0.43% fail on Engine oil leaks
      • 0.16% fail on Other leaks
      • 0.12% fail on Transmission oil leaks
      • 0.039% fail on Hydraulic fluid leaks
    • 0.12% fail on Noise suppression (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.12% fail on Sound deadening material (8 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
  • 2.7% fail on Steering (29% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 2.1% fail on Steering linkage components
      • 1.5% fail on Track rod end
      • 0.31% fail on Drag link end
      • 0.27% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.078% fail on Other components
        • 0.039% fail on Steering component
        • 0.039% fail on Steering linkage
      • 0.039% fail on Intermediate drop arm
      • 0.039% fail on Lock stop
    • 0.27% fail on Power steering
      • 0.12% fail on Other components
      • 0.078% fail on Pipes and hoses
      • 0.039% fail on Operation
      • 0.039% fail on Pump
    • 0.16% fail on Steering gear (87% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.16% fail on Steering box
    • 0.12% fail on Prescribed areas
    • 0.12% fail on Steering play
      • 0.12% fail on Steering box
  • 2.2% fail on Tyres
    • 1.2% fail on Condition
    • 0.97% fail on Tread depth
    • 0.039% fail on Size/type
  • 1.1% fail on Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems (38% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 1.0% fail on Seat belts (40% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.74% fail on Prescribed areas
      • 0.27% fail on Condition
      • 0.039% fail on Requirements
    • 0.039% fail on SRS malfunction indicator lamp
  • 0.43% fail on Identification of the vehicle
    • 0.43% fail on Registration plates
  • 0.16% fail on Road Wheels
    • 0.16% fail on Attachment
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