2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

2,965 MOT tests in 2024. 64.9% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time64.9%
Failed or needed repairs35.1%
Typical mileage at test82,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,965 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.4%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.9%
  3. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  6. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened2.3%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
    114 marked dangerous
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.8%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  10. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension20.7%
  2. Lights & electrics14.9%
  3. Brakes12.7%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.0%
  5. Tyres6.1%
  6. Steering5.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.5%
  8. Body & chassis2.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.1%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.9%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.0%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 SLK?

In 2024, 64.9% of 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,965 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

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

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 115, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).