Mercedes-Benz 200: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz 200 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 575 individual Mercedes-Benz 200 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 75.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 24 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz 200s 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 200 tested had covered 106,476 miles and was built around 1997.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mercedes-Benz 200 sits 0.9 points below the national average, ranked 1,595 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 200 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Mercedes-Benz 200s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 200

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.6% of tests (7.35x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.8% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this defect)
4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.8% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.3% of tests
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.6% of tests
7. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.1% of tests (5.03x the national rate for this defect)
8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
10. 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, 1.9% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect)

From 577 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz 200 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.68% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz 200 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mercedes-Benz 200

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mercedes-Benz 200 before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 4.2% of tests (6.41x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 20.5% of tests (3.3x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11.3% of tests (2.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. 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, 3.5% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 12.3% of tests (2.21x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.8% of tests (2.08x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.4% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.9% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.6% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.4% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this advisory)

From 577 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz 200 tests, 2024.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

• Mercedes-Benz C - 77.4%
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 78.7%
• Mercedes-Benz E - 79.2%
• Mercedes-Benz A - 89.5%
• Mercedes-Benz Vito - 72.7%
• Mercedes-Benz Gla - 85.2%
• Mercedes-Benz Glc - 87.8%
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class - 74.7%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Renault Unclassified - 76%
• Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto - 75.9%
• MINI Cooper D - 75.8%
• Kia Picanto - 75.7%
• Hyundai I40 - 75.7%
• Mitsubishi Unclassified - 75.7%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate