2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

2,444 MOT tests in 2024. 70.5% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time70.5%
Failed or needed repairs29.5%
Typical mileage at test67,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,444 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.6%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.6%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.3%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    69 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
    56 marked dangerous
  7. Washers: not working1.4%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%
  10. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension17.9%
  2. Brakes10.4%
  3. Lights & electrics9.5%
  4. Tyres6.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.9%
  7. Seat belts & airbags1.2%
  8. Body & chassis1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.6%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.9%

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 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 70.5% of 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,444 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

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

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).