Is the Mercedes 208 d reliable?

The Mercedes 208 d has an average MOT pass rate of 72% across 9 years, based on 1,089 tests in 2024. That's 10 points below the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 1996 with a 78% pass rate.

Which year Mercedes 208 d is best?

The 1996 Mercedes 208 d has the highest MOT pass rate at 78%, while the 1992 model has the lowest at 61%. There's a 17 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Mercedes 208 d Running Costs, MOT Pass Rates & Reliability

Mercedes 208 d

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 9 years from 1,089 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

72%

Total Tests

1,089

Best Year

1996 (78%)

Years Covered

How reliable is the Mercedes 208 d?

vs national average-10% (82% avg)

vs Mercedes brand average-15% (87% avg)

Best to worst year spread17 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Mercedes 208 d by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
1999	67%	134	149,570 mi
1998	70%	166	143,742 mi
1997	75%	186	154,882 mi
1996	78%	189	156,559 mi
1995	77%	112	110,550 mi
1994	73%	89	108,600 mi
1992	61%	62	94,379 mi
1991	69%	80	90,995 mi
1990	75%	71	109,694 mi

Checking a specific Mercedes 208 d?

Enter the reg plate to see its individual MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

About the Mercedes 208 d

The Mercedes 208 d has been tested 1,089 times in 2024 MOT data across 9 model years (1990 to 1999), with an average pass rate of 72%. That's 10 points below the national average of 82%, so check the year-by-year data carefully before buying. Available as diesel.

Best and Worst Years

The 1996 model is the most reliable with a 78% pass rate from 189 tests. The 1992 model has the lowest at 61%. With a 17 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.

Reliability Trend

Newer MERCEDES 208 Ds show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 4 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1990) averages 109,694 miles, while the newest (1999) averages 149,570 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.

Compared to the Mercedes brand average of 87%, the 208 d is 15 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Mercedes models.

Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.