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Common Mercedes Unclassified Problems, Faults, and Repair Costs

Every known Mercedes Unclassified MOT issue, ranked by how common it is and what it costs to fix. Based on 5,751 real MOT tests across 28 model years.

Segment: performance | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol

84%

Mercedes Unclassified pass rate

87%

Mercedes average

82%

National average

The Mercedes Unclassified has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, which is 3 points below the Mercedes average and 2 points above the national average. Newer MERCEDES UNCLASSIFIEDs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 13 percentage points.

Check Your Mercedes Unclassified's MOT History

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Most Common Mercedes Unclassified MOT Issues

Ranked by how likely they are to affect your Mercedes Unclassified, with typical repair costs

Brakes

High likelihood

£80 - £450

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Brake discs worn, brake pads thin, handbrake adjustment needed

Failure points:

Brake disc excessively worn, brake pipe corroded, brake efficiency below minimum

Suspension

High likelihood

£150 - £600

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Suspension arm bush worn, shock absorber misting, spring corroded

Failure points:

Coil spring broken, ball joint excessive play, shock absorber leaking

Lights

High likelihood

£15 - £200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Headlamp aim slightly out, lens deteriorated

Failure points:

Headlamp not working, brake light not functioning, indicator failure

Tyres

High likelihood

£50 - £300

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Tyre approaching legal limit, slight damage to sidewall

Failure points:

Tyre below minimum tread depth, tyre has a cut exposing ply

Exhaust & Emissions

High likelihood

£80 - £800

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Exhaust mounting corroded, slight exhaust leak

Failure points:

Exhaust emissions exceed limits, catalytic converter efficiency low, DPF warning

Steering

High likelihood

£100 - £500

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Track rod end has slight play, steering rack boot deteriorated

Failure points:

Steering rack leaking, track rod ball joint worn beyond limits

Body & Structure

High likelihood

£200 - £1200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Surface corrosion on subframe, slight body panel damage

Failure points:

Structural corrosion, body mounting corroded through, chassis weakness

Windscreen & Wipers

Lower likelihood

£10 - £350

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Minor windscreen chip, wiper blade deteriorated

Failure points:

Windscreen crack in swept area, wiper does not clear windscreen

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Mercedes Unclassified Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, based on real test data

1990
83%
1994
74%
1996
66%
1997
66%
Worst year
1998
81%
1999
78%
2000
73%
2001
73%
2002
84%
2003
73%
2004
79%
2005
79%
2006
81%
2007
81%
2008
79%
2009
79%
2010
92%
2011
90%
2012
89%
2013
89%
2014
86%
2015
91%
2016
87%
2017
91%
2018
92%
2019
95%
2020
93%
2021
96%
Best year
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail Rate
2021Diesel3.0L96%4%
2020Diesel3.0L93%6%
2019Diesel2.1L95%5%
2018Diesel3.0L92%7%
2017Diesel3.0L91%5%
2016Petrol3.0L87%13%
2015Diesel2.1L91%7%
2014Diesel2.1L86%13%
2013Diesel3.8L89%9%
2012Diesel3.0L89%11%
2011Petrol3.5L90%10%
2010Diesel0.0L92%8%
2009Diesel2.1L79%20%
2008Diesel2.1L79%20%
2007Petrol5.4L81%18%
2006Diesel4.3L81%18%
2005Petrol3.5L79%19%
2004Petrol3.2L79%20%
2003Diesel2.7L73%27%
2002Diesel4.3L84%16%
2001Diesel4.3L73%18%
2000Diesel2.3L73%25%
1999Petrol5.5L78%21%
1998Diesel2.9L81%19%
1997Diesel4.0L66%34%
1996Diesel4.0L66%34%
1994Diesel4.0L74%26%
1990Diesel2.3L83%17%

Most Reliable Year

2021

96% pass rate from 270 tests

View 2021 Mercedes Unclassified details

Least Reliable Year

1997

66% pass rate from 65 tests

View 1997 Mercedes Unclassified details

Mercedes Unclassified Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Mercedes Unclassified? Including fuel, tax, insurance, and predicted repairs based on MOT history.

View Mercedes Unclassified Running Costs

Mercedes Unclassified FAQ

What are the most common Mercedes Unclassified problems?

The most common Mercedes Unclassified MOT problems are brakes, suspension, lights, tyres, exhaust & emissions, steering, body & structure issues. These are the areas most likely to cause advisories or failures during an MOT test, based on 5,751 real tests.

Is the Mercedes Unclassified reliable?

The Mercedes Unclassified has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, which is 2 points above the national average of 82%. This is considered good reliability.

Which year Mercedes Unclassified is most reliable?

The 2021 Mercedes Unclassified is the most reliable year with a 96% MOT pass rate. Avoid the 1997 model year if reliability is your priority, as it has the lowest pass rate at 66%.

How much does it cost to fix common Mercedes Unclassified faults?

Repair costs vary by issue. Brake work on a Mercedes Unclassified typically costs £80-£450, suspension repairs cost £150-£600, and exhaust/emissions fixes cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

Check a Specific Mercedes Unclassified

Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.

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Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

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