2002 · 22 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

990 MOT tests in 2024. 67.4% passed first time, compared with 58.1% for all cars the same age.

116Well above average
Passed first time67.4%
Failed or needed repairs32.6%
Typical mileage at test114,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 990 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.0%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.9%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    45 marked dangerous
  5. Rear fog lamp: not working2.1%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.9%
  7. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.5%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.4%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%
    22 marked dangerous
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics20.4%
  2. Suspension17.1%
  3. Brakes13.1%
  4. Tyres6.7%
  5. Body & chassis6.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.1%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.9%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.1%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.2%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.7%

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.

← 2001 E-ClassAll E-Class years2003 E-Class →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

In 2024, 67.4% of 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 990 tests. The average for all 22-year-old cars was 58.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 116, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).