2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

625 MOT tests in 2024. 76.8% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

136Well above average
Passed first time76.8%
Failed or needed repairs23.2%
Typical mileage at test119,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 625 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    31 marked dangerous
  3. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.4%
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.9%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.6%
  6. Side repeaters: not working1.6%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    19 marked dangerous
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.6%
  9. Washers: not working1.4%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics13.0%
  2. Suspension10.2%
  3. Brakes9.8%
  4. Tyres5.9%
  5. Seat belts & airbags4.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  7. Steering2.7%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded14.2%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.1%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn8.6%

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 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

In 2024, 76.8% of 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 625 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 136, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).