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
| First-time pass rate | 75.8% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -0.9 points |
| Tests analysed | 575 |
| Average mileage at test | 106,476 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 1997 |
| Reliability rank | 1,595 of 2,005 models |
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. On a Mercedes-Benz 200 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 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 what damaged Mercedes-Benz 200s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 200
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.9% of tests (7.87x the national rate for this defect)
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2% of tests (6.91x the national rate for this defect)
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (3.27x the national rate for this defect)
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.3% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect)
- 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, 1.6% of tests (1.93x the national rate for this defect)
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.9% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.4% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.3% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3% of tests
From 1,188 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz 200 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.72% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz 200 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
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
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