Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Mercedes-Benz B-Class in Great Britain in 2025 — 71,080 tests. Figures cover every B-Class first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the B-Class ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
72.6%
0.3 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
71,080
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
7.3%
of B-Class first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
66,250
middle half: 48,750–86,250 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 72,224 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars that were taxed or on SORN: 69,021 taxed and 3,203 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Mercedes-Benz B-Class vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
69,021
95.6% of the 72,224 B-Class cars taxed or on SORN; 314 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
3,203
declared off the road by their keepers — 4.4% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed B-Class cars peaked at 75,967 at the end of 2021 and has since fallen by 6,946 (9.1%) to 69,021 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 238 at the end of 2014 to 3,203 at the end of 2025, up 1245.8%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed B-Class cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

020k40k60k80k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed B-Class cars, year 2014: 53kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2015: 58kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2016: 63kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2017: 68kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2018: 71kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2019: 74kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2020: 75kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2021: 76kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2022: 75kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2023: 74kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2024: 71kTaxed B-Class cars, year 2025: 69k69k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed B-Class cars
201453,152
201558,414
201663,211
201767,748
201870,873
201974,018
202075,119
202175,967
202275,498
202373,728
202471,465
202569,021

B-Class cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

01k2k3k4k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)B-Class cars on SORN, year 2014: 238B-Class cars on SORN, year 2015: 328B-Class cars on SORN, year 2016: 498B-Class cars on SORN, year 2017: 710B-Class cars on SORN, year 2018: 1kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2019: 1kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2020: 2kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2021: 2kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2022: 2kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2023: 2kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2024: 3kB-Class cars on SORN, year 2025: 3k3k
View this chart as a table
YearB-Class cars on SORN
2014238
2015328
2016498
2017710
20181,014
20191,268
20201,687
20211,696
20221,935
20232,294
20242,772
20253,203

Which model years survive

Taxed B-Class cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 69,021 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed B-Class cars
20237771.1%
20221,2121.8%
20211,7252.5%
20202,8054.1%
20194,1356.0%
20183,8705.6%
20175,5858.1%
20165,2377.6%
20155,5758.1%
20148,00311.6%
20136,7909.8%
20125,3917.8%
20113,1844.6%
20103,9795.8%
20093,6565.3%
20082,7384.0%
20071,9672.8%
20061,3862.0%
All other build years (three years, each under 1%)1,0061.5%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name B CLASS under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the B-Class ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, B-Class vs all cars, 2025.

Mercedes-Benz B-ClassAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 3: 91%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 4: 91.7%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 5: 90%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 6: 89.2%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 7: 83.5%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 8: 80.4%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 9: 79.2%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 10: 76.6%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 11: 71.8%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 12: 71.1%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 13: 69.3%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 14: 58.8%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 15: 58.2%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 16: 58.2%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 17: 55.2%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 18: 55.6%Mercedes-Benz B-Class, vehicle age 19: 56.5%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%All cars 57.6%Mercedes-Benz B-Class 56.5%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)B-Class testsB-Class pass rateAll cars
31,31591.0%88.5%
41,81491.7%87.2%
52,92390.0%86.0%
64,30489.2%83.5%
73,97383.5%80.9%
85,69380.4%78.2%
95,36079.2%74.9%
105,67876.6%71.9%
118,20971.8%68.6%
127,00471.1%65.8%
135,75869.3%63.5%
143,39258.8%61.2%
154,33758.2%59.3%
164,02058.2%58.3%
173,08155.2%57.2%
182,23455.6%57.4%
191,61256.5%57.0%

Better or worse than the average car?

The B-Class's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the B-Class beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

B-Class aheadB-Class behind
-6-3+0+3+6Age 3: +2.5 points vs the average car3Age 4: +4.5 points vs the average carAge 5: +4.0 points vs the average car5Age 6: +5.7 points vs the average carAge 7: +2.6 points vs the average car7Age 8: +2.2 points vs the average carAge 9: +4.3 points vs the average car9Age 10: +4.7 points vs the average carAge 11: +3.2 points vs the average car11Age 12: +5.3 points vs the average carAge 13: +5.8 points vs the average car13Age 14: -2.4 points vs the average carAge 15: -1.1 points vs the average car15Age 16: -0.1 points vs the average carAge 17: -2.0 points vs the average car17Age 18: -1.8 points vs the average carAge 19: -0.5 points vs the average car19Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+2.5
4+4.5
5+4.0
6+5.7
7+2.6
8+2.2
9+4.3
10+4.7
11+3.2
12+5.3
13+5.8
14-2.4
15-1.1
16-0.1
17-2.0
18-1.8
19-0.5

The B-Class fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the B-Class fleet still in use.

02k4k6k9kAge 3: 1k3Age 4: 1kAge 5: 2k5Age 6: 4kAge 7: 3k7Age 8: 5kAge 9: 5k9Age 10: 5kAge 11: 8k11Age 12: 7kAge 13: 5k13Age 14: 3kAge 15: 4k15Age 16: 4kAge 17: 3k17Age 18: 2kAge 19: 1k19Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
31,315
41,814
52,923
64,304
73,973
85,693
95,360
105,678
118,209
127,004
135,758
143,392
154,337
164,020
173,081
182,234
191,612

What a B-Class fails on

Where the failure items land when a B-Class fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.9%
Suspension22.4%
Brakes15.4%
Tyres14.7%
Visibility7.5%
Body, chassis, structure6.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.6%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.4%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (97.0% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a B-Class, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Brakes: 35.6% of advisories35.6%Tyres: 35.4% of advisories35.4%Suspension: 12.4% of advisories12.4%Non-component advisories: 7.2% of advisories7.2%Identification of the vehicle: 2.3% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 1.7% of advisories
BrakesTyresSuspensionNon-component advisoriesIdentification of the vehicleNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Brakes35.6%
Tyres35.4%
Suspension12.4%
Non-component advisories7.2%
Identification of the vehicle2.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks1.7%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid B-Class?

First-time pass rate for the three most-tested B-Class fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Diesel: 71.4% of 44,897 tests71.4%Diesel44,897 testsPetrol: 74.3% of 25,242 tests74.3%Petrol25,242 testsHybrid electric: 90.3% of 548 tests90.3%Hybrid548 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Diesel44,89771.4%
Petrol25,24274.3%
Hybrid electric54890.3%

What mileage is normal for a B-Class?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) B-Class; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical B-Class (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k35791113151719Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 13,750–31,250)Age 4: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 16,250–36,250)Age 5: typical 28,750 miles (middle half 18,750–38,750)Age 6: typical 33,750 miles (middle half 23,750–43,750)Age 7: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 28,750–53,750)Age 8: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 36,250–68,750)Age 9: typical 56,250 miles (middle half 41,250–76,250)Age 10: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 48,750–86,250)Age 11: typical 73,750 miles (middle half 56,250–96,250)Age 12: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 58,750–101,250)Age 13: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–108,750)Age 14: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 63,750–103,750)Age 15: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 68,750–111,250)Age 16: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 73,750–118,750)Age 17: typical 101,250 miles (middle half 78,750–123,750)Age 18: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 76,250–121,250)Age 19: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 78,750–121,250)98k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
313,75021,25031,250
416,25026,25036,250
518,75028,75038,750
623,75033,75043,750
728,75041,25053,750
836,25051,25068,750
941,25056,25076,250
1048,75066,25086,250
1156,25073,75096,250
1258,75081,250101,250
1363,75086,250108,750
1463,75083,750103,750
1568,75088,750111,250
1673,75096,250118,750
1778,750101,250123,750
1876,25098,750121,250
1978,75098,750121,250

What fails at each age

The B-Class's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentVisibilitySuspensionBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres54.0%
3-5 yrsBrakes9.7%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment8.3%
3-5 yrsVisibility8.0%
3-5 yrsSuspension6.4%
3-5 yrsEverything else13.6%
6-9 yrsTyres32.9%
6-9 yrsSuspension20.6%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment16.1%
6-9 yrsBrakes11.3%
6-9 yrsVisibility7.1%
6-9 yrsEverything else12.0%
10-13 yrsSuspension31.0%
10-13 yrsTyres19.3%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.8%
10-13 yrsBrakes11.7%
10-13 yrsVisibility5.5%
10-13 yrsEverything else13.7%
14+ yrsSuspension22.7%
14+ yrsBrakes21.8%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.5%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure11.4%
14+ yrsTyres8.4%
14+ yrsEverything else16.2%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.