2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 66.0% of Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars first used in 2001 passed their MOT first time, against 61.1% for all cars first used in 2001. Across 2,175 E-Class first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars first used in 2001 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
66.0%
of 582 first tests; all cars first used in 2001: 61.1%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
2,175
first tests, 2023–2025; 582 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
28.7%
of 582 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
104,000
middle half: 75,500–135,500 miles; all cars first used in 2001: 99,500

How the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, E-Class cars first used in 2001 against all cars first used in 2001 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the E-Class figure was 4.9 points higher.

2001 E-ClassAll cars first used in 2001
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2001, test year 2021: 55.6%All cars first used in 2001, test year 2022: 57.4%All cars first used in 2001, test year 2023: 58.7%All cars first used in 2001, test year 2024: 59.4%All cars first used in 2001, test year 2025: 61.1%2001 E-Class, test year 2021: 63.1%2001 E-Class, test year 2022: 63.3%2001 E-Class, test year 2023: 64.4%2001 E-Class, test year 2024: 65.3%2001 E-Class, test year 2025: 66%66%61.1%
View this chart as a table
Test year2001 E-ClassAll cars first used 2001E-Class first tests
202163.1%55.6%1,435
202263.3%57.4%1,126
202364.4%58.7%884
202465.3%59.4%709
202566.0%61.1%582

Common 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT failures

Share of the 759 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment51.1%
Suspension32.9%
Visibility21.7%
Brakes20.3%
Body, chassis, structure18.8%
Tyres16.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems6.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working12.8%97
Rear fog lamp: not working12.4%94
Coil spring: fractured or broken9.9%75
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid9.7%74
Position lamp: not working9.5%72

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for an E-Class in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2001 E-Class cars, as a share of all 2,175 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material17.3%377
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15.4%336
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive14.5%315
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.0%195
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened7.5%164

Questions about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

In 2025, 66.0% of E-Class cars first used in 2001 passed their MOT first time, against 61.1% for all cars first used in 2001. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2001 E-Class most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 51.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (32.9%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (21.7%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (12.8%).

How often does a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class fail its MOT?

In 2025, 34.0% of first tests on E-Class cars first used in 2001 did not pass first time: 27.3% failed, and a further 6.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 759 of 2,175 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 17.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (15.4%), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (14.5%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.0%) and “Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened” (7.5%).

Is a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 63.1% in 2021 to 66.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2001

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2001 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2001 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics · 2001 Volkswagen Transporter MOT statistics · 2001 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2001 BMW 3 Series MOT statistics

How the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2001 E-Class” means a Mercedes-Benz E-Class whose date of first use falls in 2001 (X, Y and 51 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2001, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.