2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

5,472 MOT tests in 2024. 74.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

116Well above average
Passed first time74.3%
Failed or needed repairs25.7%
Typical mileage at test60,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 5,472 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.0%
  2. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.2%
    189 marked dangerous
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
    179 marked dangerous
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.9%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  9. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault1.3%
  10. Anti-roll bars - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension15.2%
  2. Tyres7.8%
  3. Brakes7.6%
  4. Lights & electrics5.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.0%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.2%
  7. Body & chassis1.0%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.0%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.1%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.9%

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 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 74.3% of 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 5,472 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

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

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 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).