Mercedes-Benz 190: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz 190 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 573 individual Mercedes-Benz 190 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate76.1%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-0.6 points
Tests analysed573
Average mileage at test121,191 miles
Average year of manufacture1990
Reliability rank1,590 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 24 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz 190s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Mercedes-Benz 190 tested had covered 121,191 miles and was built around 1990.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Mercedes-Benz 190 bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mercedes-Benz 190 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Mercedes-Benz 190s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 190

  1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.7% of tests (12.65x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.1% of tests (8.6x the national rate for this defect)
  3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.5% of tests (7.88x the national rate for this defect)
  4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.5% of tests (6.48x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.4% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.8% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.6% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.5% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.3% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
  10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.2% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,407 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz 190 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.53% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz 190 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

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Mercedes-Benz 190 MOT pass rate badge: 76.1%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate