At a Glance
The Mercedes-benz E-class has 9 identified common problems across 7 generations, with the W212 (2009-2016) being the most affected generation and tyres & wheels the most common problem category. Based on 3.8M MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read our DVSA MOT data methodology →
Below: generation-by-generation comparison of Mercedes-benz E-class common problems, MOT failure types, and pass-rate data drawn from DVSA records. Click any generation to see fuel- and engine-specific fault patterns, mileage-banded repair guidance, and the most common MOT failures testers record.
MOT Tests & Failures by Generation
Mercedes-benz E-class generations by MOT tests, failures, and identified problems from DVSA data
Hover over each bar for a full breakdown. Tap any bar to view that generation's problems.
Showing total MOT tests, failures, and known problems per make. Hover over each bar for a full breakdown.
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Browse Mercedes-benz E-class Generations
Select a generation to see its specific problems, MOT failures and advisories
W123
Most common MOT failure: Suspension component mounting corroded
W124
Top issue: Driver seat fault
W210
Top issue: Driver seat fault
W211
Most common MOT failure: Tyre condition
W212
Top issue: Compression ignition emissions above threshold
W213
Top issue: Tyre condition
W214
Most common MOT failure: Tyre condition
Most Common Mercedes-benz E-class MOT Failures
Every reason Mercedes-benz E-class vehicles fail their MOT, ranked by frequency. Select an individual year to see only that year’s failures, or stay on ‘All time’ for the combined picture across our 20 years of DVSA data. Scroll inside the table for the full list.
| # | Failure | % of failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyre tread depth below limit | 11.01% |
| 2 | Tyre condition | 10.76% |
| 3 | Suspension joint or bush worn | 8.41% |
| 4 | Brake hydraulic component worn | 4.98% |
| 5 | Coil spring broken or corroded | 4.26% |
| 6 | Stop lamp not working | 3.41% |
| 7 | Brake pads or linings worn | 3.40% |
| 8 | Wiper blades deteriorated | 3.14% |
| 9 | Windscreen washer not working | 3.09% |
| 10 | Front suspension joint worn | 2.80% |
| 11 | Brake performance below minimum | 2.77% |
| 12 | Number plate lamp not working | 2.73% |
| 13 | Exhaust system fault | 2.62% |
| 14 | Indicator fault | 2.43% |
| 15 | Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged | 2.41% |
| 16 | Track rod end worn | 2.28% |
| 17 | Headlamp aim defect | 2.12% |
| 18 | Front lamp not working | 2.02% |
| 19 | Ball joint dust cover split | 1.82% |
| 20 | Parking brake performance below minimum | 1.46% |
| 21 | Catalytic converter efficiency low | 1.45% |
| 22 | Windscreen damage affecting view | 1.18% |
| 23 | Headlamp fault | 1.15% |
| 24 | Brake disc or drum worn | 1.13% |
| 25 | Shock absorber worn or leaking | 1.11% |
| 26 | Fog lamp not working | 1.04% |
| 27 | Rear lamp not working | 0.96% |
| 28 | Position lamp not working | 0.88% |
| 29 | Spark ignition emissions above threshold | 0.83% |
| 30 | Compression ignition emissions above threshold | 0.78% |
| 31 | Suspension mounting corroded | 0.77% |
| 32 | ABS fault | 0.76% |
| 33 | Body corrosion or damage | 0.68% |
| 34 | Airbag warning light on | 0.67% |
| 35 | Mirror damaged or missing | 0.55% |
| 36 | Seat belt condition | 0.55% |
| 37 | Front suspension fault | 0.50% |
| 38 | Chassis condition | 0.38% |
| 39 | Tyre size or type not matched | 0.37% |
| 40 | Parking brake condition | 0.36% |
| 41 | Tyre pressure monitoring system fault | 0.28% |
| 42 | Spring mounting corroded | 0.28% |
| 43 | Subframe corrosion or damage | 0.28% |
| 44 | Horn not working | 0.27% |
| 45 | Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst) | 0.25% |
| 46 | Flexible brake hose damaged | 0.23% |
| 47 | Wheel bearing worn | 0.21% |
| 48 | Electronic stability control fault | 0.21% |
| 49 | Subframe mounting corroded | 0.19% |
| 50 | Rear fog lamp not working | 0.19% |
| 51 | Dashboard warning lamp fault | 0.19% |
| 52 | Steering rack fault | 0.18% |
| 53 | Fuel cap damaged or missing | 0.16% |
| 54 | Electrical switch fault | 0.15% |
| 55 | Brake pedal fault | 0.14% |
| 56 | Fuel pipe corroded or damaged | 0.14% |
| 57 | Headlamp levelling device fault | 0.13% |
| 58 | Battery loose or leaking | 0.12% |
| 59 | Vehicle structure corrosion | 0.12% |
| 60 | Rear suspension fault | 0.11% |
| 61 | Driveshaft fault | 0.10% |
| 62 | Engine oil leak | 0.10% |
| 63 | Suspension arm worn or corroded | 0.09% |
| 64 | Drag link end worn | 0.09% |
| 65 | Bonnet catch or hinge fault | 0.08% |
| 66 | Fuel hose damaged or leaking | 0.08% |
| 67 | Brake caliper fault | 0.07% |
| 68 | Brake fluid leak | 0.07% |
| 69 | Suspension linkage fault | 0.07% |
| 70 | Headlamp washer not working | 0.07% |
| 71 | Brake lever fault | 0.06% |
| 72 | Steering arm worn | 0.06% |
| 73 | Tyre valve stem damaged | 0.05% |
| 74 | Power steering pipe or hose leaking | 0.05% |
| 75 | Steering free play excessive | 0.05% |
| 76 | Suspension unit fault | 0.05% |
| 77 | Bumper damaged or insecure | 0.04% |
| 78 | Brake pedal movement restricted | 0.04% |
| 79 | Brake fluid level low or contaminated | 0.04% |
| 80 | Steering damper fault | 0.04% |
| 81 | Fuel tank corroded or leaking | 0.04% |
| 82 | Rear reflector damaged or missing | 0.03% |
| 83 | Passenger seat fault | 0.03% |
| 84 | Steering operation fault | 0.03% |
| 85 | Propshaft fault | 0.03% |
| 86 | Undertray damaged or missing | 0.03% |
| 87 | Steering box fault | 0.02% |
| 88 | Driver seat fault | 0.02% |
| 89 | Electrical wiring fault | 0.02% |
| 90 | Steering lock fault | 0.02% |
| 91 | Brake cable, rod, lever or linkage fault | 0.02% |
| 92 | MacPherson strut worn | 0.02% |
| 93 | Anti-roll bar worn or corroded | 0.02% |
| 94 | Brake fluid warning light on | 0.02% |
| 95 | Body security fault | 0.02% |
| 96 | Boot lid damaged or insecure | 0.02% |
| 97 | Bonded suspension condition | 0.02% |
| 98 | Air suspension levelling valve fault | 0.02% |
| 99 | Exhaust leak | 0.02% |
| 100 | Brake back plate corroded or damaged | 0.02% |
| 101 | Front passenger door fault | 0.02% |
| 102 | Brake air or vacuum system fault | 0.02% |
| 103 | Rear fog lamp warning light fault | 0.02% |
| 104 | Reversing lamp not working | 0.01% |
| 105 | Brake master cylinder or servo mounting fault | 0.01% |
| 106 | Steering column fault | 0.01% |
| 107 | Handbrake cable fault | 0.01% |
| 108 | Driver airbag fault | 0.01% |
| 109 | Electronic braking system fault | 0.01% |
| 110 | Speedometer fault | 0.01% |
| 111 | Vehicle floor corroded | 0.01% |
| 112 | Engine mounting worn or broken | 0.01% |
| 113 | King pin or swivel pin worn | 0.01% |
| 114 | Handbrake lever fault | 0.01% |
| 115 | Brake servo fault | 0.01% |
| 116 | Transmission oil leak | 0.01% |
| 117 | Power steering pump fault | <0.01% |
| 118 | Brake fluid reservoir fault | <0.01% |
| 119 | Suspension air bellows damaged | <0.01% |
| 120 | Power steering ram fault | <0.01% |
| 121 | Driver door fault | <0.01% |
| 122 | Steering wheel damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 123 | Steering drive system fault | <0.01% |
| 124 | Full power hydraulic brake fault | <0.01% |
| 125 | Steering intermediate drop arm worn | <0.01% |
| 126 | Electronic parking brake fault | <0.01% |
| 127 | Hydraulic fluid leak | <0.01% |
| 128 | Handbrake mechanism or mounting fault | <0.01% |
| 129 | Tie bar or rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 130 | Trailing arm worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 131 | Towbar fault | <0.01% |
| 132 | Mirror or camera fault | <0.01% |
| 133 | Window damaged or won't operate | <0.01% |
| 134 | Indicator warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 135 | Tailgate damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 136 | Main beam warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 137 | Hydraulic brake cylinder fault | <0.01% |
| 138 | Dip switch fault | <0.01% |
| 139 | Hydraulic suspension accumulator fault | <0.01% |
| 140 | Passenger airbag fault | <0.01% |
| 141 | Suspension retaining or locking device fault | <0.01% |
| 142 | Additional braking device fault | <0.01% |
| 143 | Load sensing valve fault | <0.01% |
| 144 | Electric power steering fault | <0.01% |
| 145 | Steering coupling worn | <0.01% |
| 146 | Steering shaft fault | <0.01% |
| 147 | Exhaust heat shield or sound insulation damaged | <0.01% |
| 148 | Steering lock stop fault | <0.01% |
| 149 | Brake linkage mounting fault | <0.01% |
| 150 | Seat belt pre-tensioner fault | <0.01% |
| 151 | Semaphore indicator fault | <0.01% |
| 152 | Body strengthening plate corroded | <0.01% |
| 153 | Outline marker lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 154 | Brake pressure or vacuum buildup insufficient | <0.01% |
| 155 | Stub axle worn | <0.01% |
| 156 | Seat belt anchorage fault | <0.01% |
| 157 | Suspension linkage attachment bracket or mounting corroded | <0.01% |
| 158 | Brake valve fault | <0.01% |
| 159 | Front fog lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 160 | Brake master cylinder fault | <0.01% |
| 161 | Axle corroded or damaged | <0.01% |
| 162 | Daytime running lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 163 | Radius arm worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 164 | Access panel damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 165 | Axle beam corroded or cracked | <0.01% |
| 166 | Halfshaft fault | <0.01% |
| 167 | Spare wheel fault | <0.01% |
| 168 | Suspension rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 169 | Wheel hub fault | <0.01% |
| 170 | Transmission drive belt fault | <0.01% |
| 171 | Brake wheel cylinder fault | <0.01% |
| 172 | Hand-operated brake valve condition | <0.01% |
| 173 | CV joint worn | <0.01% |
| 174 | Leaf spring broken or corroded | <0.01% |
| 175 | Seat belt or padding damaged | <0.01% |
| 176 | Suspension coupling worn | <0.01% |
| 177 | Torsion bar worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 178 | Passenger compartment corrosion | <0.01% |
| 179 | Hazard warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 180 | Torque or reaction arm worn | <0.01% |
| 181 | Securing bolts missing or insecure | <0.01% |
| 182 | Anchor bracket corroded | <0.01% |
| 183 | Brake pedal linkage fault | <0.01% |
| 184 | Brake stationary pin worn | <0.01% |
| 185 | Universal joint worn | <0.01% |
| 186 | Brake clevis joint worn | <0.01% |
| 187 | Panhard rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 188 | Reversing lamp switch fault | <0.01% |
| 189 | Brake relay lever fault | <0.01% |
| 190 | Speed limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 191 | Loading door damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 192 | Brake slack adjuster fault | <0.01% |
| 193 | Seat belt load limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 194 | Step damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 195 | Dropside damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 196 | Handbrake fails on gradient | <0.01% |
| 197 | Hinged tailboard damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 198 | Leaf spring eye worn or broken | <0.01% |
| 199 | Leaf spring shackle bracket corroded | <0.01% |
Showing all 199 reasons — scroll inside the table for the full list.
Mercedes-benz E-class MOT Failures by Category
Total MOT failure occurrences for the Mercedes-benz E-class, grouped by category. Same data as the failures table above — just sliced by category instead of fault title. Hover a slice for the top failures in each category.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Mercedes-benz E-class problems?
Based on analysis of 3.8M Mercedes-benz E-class MOT tests from DVSA data, we have 9 identified common problems across 7 generations. The most frequently flagged issue is "Tyre condition". Tyres & Wheels is the most common problem category.
Which Mercedes-benz E-class generation has the most problems?
The Mercedes-benz E-class W212 (2009-2016) (2009–2016) has the highest number of identified common problems (7). Click the generation card above for the full breakdown.
How is this data calculated?
We analyse anonymised DVSA MOT test records under the Open Government Licence. An issue is classified as a "Common Problem" when it occurs significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read the full methodology page for details.
Can I report a problem with my Mercedes-benz E-class?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Mercedes-benz E-class owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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