Mercedes-Benz C-Class common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 390,331 UK MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is wheel bearings (slight play): recorded on 3.1% of tests of 2011–2013 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 16× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: ball joint (ball joint has slight play) (8.2×); rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material) (4.7×); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (5.1×). The most common reasons a Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT are ball joint (ball joint excessively worn); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); coil spring (fractured or broken).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheel bearings: has slight play | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.1% | 0.2% | 16× | 8,536 |
| Ball joint: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.3% | 0.4% | 8.2× | 29,078 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | Advisory | 2010–2012 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 22% | 4.6% | 4.7× | 12,755 |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | MOT fail | 2005–2007 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.1% | 1% | 5.1× | 2,301 |
| Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | Advisory | 2001–2003 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4.7% | 1.1% | 4.3× | 954 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 1999–2001 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 6.3% | 1.4% | 4.5× | 335 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 1997–1999 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 8.4% | 2% | 4.2× | 428 |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated | Advisory | 2000–2002 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 8% | 2.5% | 3.2× | 1,141 |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 9,506 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (11%) | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (11%, 1.7×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 36,728 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 29,078 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play (3.3%, 8.2×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 12,286 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play (4.1%, 6.8×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 4,641 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play (5%, 6.3×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 1,657 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play (5%, 5.6×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 640 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play (5.8%, 5.3×) |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 483 | Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (4.5×) |
| 1997 | 873 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.3×) |
| 1998 | 1,120 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.2×) |
| 1999 | 1,020 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.4×) |
| 2000 | 807 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.5×) |
| 2001 | 1,797 | Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.4×) |
| 2002 | 3,341 | Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.3×) |
| 2003 | 5,880 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.3×) |
| 2004 | 8,242 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.6×) |
| 2005 | 10,913 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.1×) |
| 2006 | 12,030 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (8.8×) |
| 2007 | 14,665 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.5×) |
| 2008 | 16,135 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (5.9×) |
| 2009 | 15,172 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (3.5×) |
| 2010 | 15,593 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (4.3×) |
| 2011 | 21,748 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (9.5×) |
| 2012 | 28,499 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (16×) |
| 2013 | 25,283 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (12×) |
| 2014 | 26,538 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (6.8×) |
| 2015 | 35,490 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.7×) |
| 2016 | 37,931 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (7.2×) |
| 2017 | 40,459 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (7.8×) |
| 2018 | 29,040 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (8.2×) |
| 2019 | 25,485 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (6.6×) |
| 2020 | 10,596 | Tyres (tread depth): tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (1.7×) |
| 2021 | 385 | Tyres (condition): has ply or cords exposed at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2.2×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
In 390,331 UK MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is wheel bearings (slight play): recorded on 3.1% of tests of 2011–2013 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 16× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: ball joint (ball joint has slight play) (8.2×); rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material) (4.7×); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (5.1×). The most common reasons a Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT are ball joint (ball joint excessively worn); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); coil spring (fractured or broken).
Why do Mercedes-Benz C-Classs fail the MOT?
Across 390,331 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class were ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (6.5% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.6% of tests); coil spring (fractured or broken) (6.4% of tests).
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems start?
The clearest Mercedes-Benz C-Class-specific issue, wheel bearings (slight play), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2011–2013 cars (3.1% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Mercedes-Benz C-Class data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 390,331 tests of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.