MOT History from tests of petrol MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASSs year 1996

Review the list of common MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your MERCEDES BENZ then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:64.55%

(The average a petrol MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS year 1996 passes without issue)

Based on:9,476 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	625
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	592
Headlamp aim out of alignment	523
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	248
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	241
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	215
Registration plate issues	190
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	170
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	164
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	146
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	138
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	137
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	135
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	129
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	128
Registration plate lamp issues	122
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	112
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	102
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	100
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	87
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	79
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	75
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	73
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	72
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	72
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	69
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	64
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	61
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	60
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	53
Offside Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	51
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	51
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	49
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	47
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	47
Nearside Front coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	45
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	41
Windscreen has damage	40
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	37
Offside Front coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	36
Rear brake binding	36
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	35
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	35
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	33
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	33
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	33
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	32
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	31
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	31
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	30
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	29
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	29
Front brake application uneven	28
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	28
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	28
Nearside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	28
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	28
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	27
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	26
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	26
Rear brake application uneven	25
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	24
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	24
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	24
Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	23
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	23
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	23
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	22
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	21
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	21
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	20
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	20
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	20
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	19
Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1c\|	19
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	19
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	19
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	18
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	18
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	18
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	18
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	17
Brake hose damaged	17
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	17
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	16
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	16
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	16
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	16
Nearside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	16
Nearside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	16
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	16
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	16
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	15
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	15
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	15
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	15
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	15
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	14
Offside Front Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	14
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Nearside Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	14
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	13
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	13
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	13
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	13
Nearside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1c\|	13
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	13
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	13
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	13
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	12
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	12
Offside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	12
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	12
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	12
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion \|6.1.C.1\|	12
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	12
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	12
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	12
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	11
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	11
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	11
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	11

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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MOT History from tests of petrol MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASSs year 1996

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