Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz

Model: S-Class

Model reliability rank
65
MOT-based rank from 157,640 selected-period tests.
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Overall MOT pass rate
84.5%
Share of this model's 157,640 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
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Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
57.2 mpg
CO2 emission
159 g/km
Euro emissions
Euro 6
Tax cost
£225/yr
Average vehicle miles
105,542
Solid average mileage for this model.
Life expectancy miles
113,449
Moderate mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
14.1
Comfortable mid-life age pattern.
Market share
0.05%
0.05% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
21,085
21,085 valid MOT, 0 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
157,640
157,640 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Scarce
21,085On the road
Insight summary

Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a scarce model in this snapshot, with 21,085 represented vehicles and 0.05% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 84.5% from 157,640 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 65. The current pool shows an average of 105,542 miles and an average age of 14.1 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 113,449 miles. Diesel leads the fuel split, followed by petrol, and the most frequent defect themes are windscreen damage, tyre condition and parking brake. The practical read is that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class looks a little better than average, but still rewards careful checks on mileage and maintenance.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
DIESEL14,386
PETROL5,770
HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN)769
ELECTRIC DIESEL140
ELECTRIC14
LPG4
GAS BI-FUEL1
OTHER1
DIESEL68.2%14,386 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
NCAP rating
5 / 5
Adult
94%
Children
89%
Pedestrian
93%
Safety systems
85%
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))2,226
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))1,502
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))1,361
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))1,285
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))1,215
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))988
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))841
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))825
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))786
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))755
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))754
Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))658
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))643
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))491
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))474
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))468
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))439
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))416
Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))415
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))413
Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))413
Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))412
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))410
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))385
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))374
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 18,949 defects across this top 25 set
01
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
11.7% of displayed top 25
2,226
02
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
7.9% of displayed top 25
1,502
03
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
7.2% of displayed top 25
1,361
04
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
6.8% of displayed top 25
1,285
05
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))
6.4% of displayed top 25
1,215
06
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
5.2% of displayed top 25
988
07
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))
4.4% of displayed top 25
841
08
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
4.4% of displayed top 25
825
09
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
4.1% of displayed top 25
786
10
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
4.0% of displayed top 25
755
11
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))
4.0% of displayed top 25
754
12
Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))
3.5% of displayed top 25
658
13
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
3.4% of displayed top 25
643
14
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
2.6% of displayed top 25
491
15
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
2.5% of displayed top 25
474
16
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.5% of displayed top 25
468
17
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))
2.3% of displayed top 25
439
18
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
2.2% of displayed top 25
416
19
Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
2.2% of displayed top 25
415
20
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.2% of displayed top 25
413
21
Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))
2.2% of displayed top 25
413
22
Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.2% of displayed top 25
412
23
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
2.2% of displayed top 25
410
24
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
2.0% of displayed top 25
385
25
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
2.0% of displayed top 25
374