Hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class: MOT pass rate

90.2% of hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class pass the MOT first time, measured across 899 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 68,241.

Hybrid against the other Mercedes-Benz S-Class versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Hybrids sidestep most emissions failures and tend to do lighter urban miles, though the extra weight tells on tyres and brakes.

On the Mercedes-Benz S-Class specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 90.2%, and this hybrid version sits 5 points above the 85.2% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class had covered 68,241 miles at test, against 99,135 for the diesel and 81,126 for the petrol. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class

1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 3% of tests
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.9% of tests
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests
5. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.9% of tests (15.28x the national rate for this defect)
6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
7. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 0.7% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.6% of tests
9. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.3% of tests
10. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 0.3% of tests

From 890 DVSA-tracked hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests, 2024, split out from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 9.3% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.1% of tests, also fails
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 8% of tests, also fails
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.9% of tests, also fails
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.4% of tests
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.6% of tests
6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.8% of tests
7. A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 1.1% of tests (17.61x the national rate for this defect)
8. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.9% of tests
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests

From 890 DVSA-tracked hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests, 2024.

Other Mercedes-Benz S-Class fuel types

• Diesel Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 85.2%
• Petrol Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 84.8%

All Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT data · Every model