MOT History from tests of petrol MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASSs year 1997

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:63.15%

(The average a petrol MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:9,696 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	669
Headlamp aim out of alignment	591
Brake pipe excessively corroded	557
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	214
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	208
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	200
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	192
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	191
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	181
Registration plate issues	161
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	158
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	154
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	145
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	135
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	134
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	133
Registration plate lamp issues	120
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	118
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	116
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	115
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	106
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	105
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	100
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	84
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	73
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	71
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	70
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	70
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	68
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	63
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	62
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	61
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	61
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	59
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	58
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	54
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	53
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	51
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	49
Windscreen has damage	47
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	47
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	45
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	42
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	41
Offside Front coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	40
Nearside Front coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	40
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	40
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	39
Offside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	39
Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	36
Nearside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	35
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	34
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	33
Offside Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	31
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	31
Centre Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	31
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	31
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	30
Rear brake binding	29
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	28
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	27
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	27
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	26
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	25
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	25
Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	25
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	24
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	24
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	24
Rear brake application uneven	24
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	24
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	23
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	22
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	21
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	21
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	20
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	20
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\|	19
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	19
Nearside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	19
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	18
Brake hose damaged	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\|	17
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	17
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	17
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	17
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	17
Nearside Front Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	17
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	17
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	17
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	17
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	17
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	16
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	16
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	16
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	16
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	15
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\|	15
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	15
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Upper Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	14
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	14
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	14
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	14
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	14
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	14
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	14
Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	14
Nearside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1c\|	14
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Nearside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	13
Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure \|3.3.B.1a\|	13
Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	13
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	13
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	13
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	13
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\|	13
Offside Front Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	13
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	12
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	12
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	12
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	12
Offside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	12
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	12
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	11
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	11
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	11
Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1c\|	11
Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	11
Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	11
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	11
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	11
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	11
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	11
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	11
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	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 1997

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