Mercedes-Benz R-Class: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 3.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,094 individual Mercedes-Benz R-Class tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 73.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 26 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz R-Class 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 R-Class tested had covered 121,464 miles and was built around 2009.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mercedes-Benz R-Class sits 3.1 points below the national average, ranked 1,659 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 R-Class 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 the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Mercedes-Benz R-Class: £525 at UK salvage auction, from 4 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz R-Class

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.7% of tests (17.81x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 1.5% of tests (4.13x the national rate for this defect)
3. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.3% of tests (3.43x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.4% of tests (3.19x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.9% of tests (3.02x the national rate for this defect)
6. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.5% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.3% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.6% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.1% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests

From 2,113 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz R-Class tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.04% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz R-Class 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 R-Class

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 R-Class before it actually fails on it.

1. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 26.8% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 24.1% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this advisory)
3. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.5% of tests (2.7x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 7% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 1.9% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.1% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.7% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.2% of tests, also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.5% of tests
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 11.4% of tests

From 2,113 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz R-Class tests, 2024.

Mercedes-Benz R-Class pass rate by model year

From its 2006 to its 2011 model year, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class's first-time pass rate has risen 6.9 points, from 71.2% to 78.1%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mercedes-Benz R-Class year:

• 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 71.2% first-time pass, 302 tests
• 2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 71.4% first-time pass, 315 tests
• 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 77% first-time pass, 265 tests
• 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 74.3% first-time pass, 222 tests
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 78.1% first-time pass, 343 tests
• 2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class - 77.9% first-time pass, 276 tests

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

• MINI Countryman Cooper D All4 - 73.7%
• Volkswagen Scirocco - 73.6%
• Mercedes-Benz A 200 - 73.6%
• Daihatsu Copen - 73.6%
• Fiat Motor Caravan - 73.6%
• Vauxhall Insignia - 73.5%

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?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate