2013 · 11 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

24,014 MOT tests in 2024. 69.9% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time69.9%
Failed or needed repairs30.1%
Typical mileage at test92,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 24,014 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
    1,260 marked dangerous
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.0%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.0%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.3%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    680 marked dangerous
  8. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault1.8%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%
  10. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes16.4%
  2. Suspension15.3%
  3. Tyres9.6%
  4. Lights & electrics8.4%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.0%
  7. Seat belts & airbags1.3%
  8. Body & chassis1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.0%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.9%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded7.8%
  5. Wheel bearings: has excessive play5.6%

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 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 69.9% of 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 24,014 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).