Mercedes Benz
190 E
6,157 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where 190 Es pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 0.6 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
76.9%
Pass-after-fix
3.5%
Fail
18.7%
Avg miles
121,073
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
190 E: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 2,583 MOT tests, the 190 E returns 75.0% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A torn suspension dust cover and battery insecure but not likely to fall round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 122,380, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 28–46
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–46
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
239 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 02
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
232 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
133 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 04
A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier
132 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 05
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
103 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
96 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 07
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
96 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 08
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
96 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 09
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
90 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 10
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
89 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
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Buying or keeping a 190 E?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 190 E and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.