2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

183 MOT tests in 2024. 65.0% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

111Well above average
Passed first time65.0%
Failed or needed repairs35.0%
Typical mileage at test123,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 183 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.5%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.3%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.3%
  5. On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit2.7%
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%
  7. Side repeaters: not working2.2%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
    6 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics19.7%
  2. Brakes19.1%
  3. Emissions & leaks11.5%
  4. Body & chassis4.9%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.9%
  6. Suspension4.4%
  7. Tyres3.8%
  8. Number plates & VIN1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine29.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.2%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.7%
  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: position lamp: not working. 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 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?

In 2024, 65.0% of 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 183 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 111, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).