2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 67.3% of Mercedes-Benz SLKs first used in 2007 passed their MOT first time, against 57.4% for all cars first used in 2007. Across 10,462 SLK first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, brakes and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz SLKs first used in 2007 (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
67.3%
of 3,389 first tests; all cars first used in 2007: 57.4%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
10,462
first tests, 2023–2025; 3,389 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
31.9%
of 3,389 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
75,000
middle half: 56,500–96,000 miles; all cars first used in 2007: 107,500

How the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, SLKs first used in 2007 against all cars first used in 2007 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the SLK figure was 9.9 points higher.

2007 SLKAll cars first used in 2007
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2007, test year 2021: 56.8%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2022: 57.2%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2023: 57%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2024: 56.9%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2025: 57.4%2007 SLK, test year 2021: 69%2007 SLK, test year 2022: 68.9%2007 SLK, test year 2023: 68.4%2007 SLK, test year 2024: 67.6%2007 SLK, test year 2025: 67.3%67.3%57.4%
View this chart as a table
Test year2007 SLKAll cars first used 2007SLK first tests
202169.0%56.8%3,717
202268.9%57.2%3,648
202368.4%57.0%3,570
202467.6%56.9%3,503
202567.3%57.4%3,389

Common 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT failures

Share of the 3,369 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%.

Suspension55.1%
Brakes25.9%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.1%
Tyres16.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems11.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.8%
Visibility10.3%
Body, chassis, structure5.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken21.2%715
Ball joint: excessively worn17.0%574
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault11.5%386
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements7.8%264
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction7.3%246

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 SLK in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Ball joint: excessively wornBall joint replacement£90£60–£150

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

What to check on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK before buying

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

  1. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2007 SLKs, as a share of all 10,462 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material16.0%1,673
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.9%1,457
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.1%956
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.5%781
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6.9%719

Questions about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2025, 67.3% of SLKs first used in 2007 passed their MOT first time, against 57.4% for all cars first used in 2007. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2007 SLK most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 55.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (25.9%) and lamps and electrical equipment (22.1%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (21.2%).

How often does a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK fail its MOT?

In 2025, 32.7% of first tests on SLKs first used in 2007 did not pass first time: 28.9% failed, and a further 3.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,369 of 10,462 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 16.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (13.9%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.5%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (6.9%).

Is a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK 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 69.0% in 2021 to 67.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2007

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

2007 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2007 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2007 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2007 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2007 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics

How the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK 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. “2007 SLK” means a Mercedes-Benz SLK whose date of first use falls in 2007 (56, 07 and 57 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 2007, 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.