2017 · 7 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

39,051 MOT tests in 2024. 82.5% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time82.5%
Failed or needed repairs17.5%
Typical mileage at test57,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 39,051 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    2,078 marked dangerous
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    1,217 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.7%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.9%
    477 marked dangerous
  8. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.8%
    449 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: too low0.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres9.1%
  2. Suspension4.3%
  3. Emissions & leaks2.7%
  4. Lights & electrics2.3%
  5. Brakes2.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.9%
  7. Wheels0.8%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.3%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.4%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.7%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.7%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.3%

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: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

In 2024, 82.5% of 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 39,051 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The most common failure reasons were tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).