2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

1,361 MOT tests in 2024. 61.5% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time61.5%
Failed or needed repairs38.5%
Typical mileage at test96,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,361 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.3%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.9%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.4%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.1%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    45 marked dangerous
  7. Electronic stability control: warning lamp indicates a fault1.9%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  9. Stop lamp: not working1.8%
  10. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension26.1%
  2. Lights & electrics21.5%
  3. Brakes13.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.7%
  6. Tyres6.2%
  7. Body & chassis4.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.5%
  4. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)9.2%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.2%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 61.5% of 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,361 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).