Mercedes-Benz Slc: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz Slc passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 8,336 individual Mercedes-Benz Slc tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.2%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+10.5 points
Tests analysed8,336
Average mileage at test33,359 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,082 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 13 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz Slcs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Mercedes-Benz Slc tested had covered 33,359 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mercedes-Benz Slc sits 10.5 points above the national average, ranked 1,082 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Slc 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 Slcs at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Slc

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.4% of tests (7.55x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.4% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
  3. ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction, 0.4% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Warning device shows system malfunction, 0.7% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.7% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.6% of tests
  7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.6% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests
  9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.1% of tests
  10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.7% of tests

From 8,328 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz Slc tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.5% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz Slc 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 Slc

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 Slc before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 3.2% of tests (4.96x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.8% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 20.1% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.6% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 4.6% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.2% of tests
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.4% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.5% of tests, also fails
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.6% of tests
  10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.4% of tests

From 8,328 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz Slc tests, 2024.

Mercedes-Benz Slc pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2019 model year, the Mercedes-Benz Slc's first-time pass rate has risen 7 points, from 85.3% to 92.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mercedes-Benz Slc year:

Mercedes-Benz Slc by fuel type

The Mercedes-Benz Slc's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.6 points: petrol passes first time 89.4% of the time (5,474 tests) against 83.8% for diesel (2,831 tests).

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

Embed this data

Run a site about the Mercedes-Benz Slc? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

Mercedes-Benz Slc MOT pass rate badge: 87.2%

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mercedes-benz-slc"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/mercedes-benz-slc.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Mercedes-Benz Slc MOT Pass Rate: 87.2% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Mercedes-Benz Slc's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

Mercedes-Benz Slc most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.4% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mercedes-benz-slc"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/mercedes-benz-slc.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Mercedes-Benz Slc most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate