The picture
S-Class: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 31,423 MOT tests, the S-Class returns 83.5% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is worn suspension bushes. Windscreen damage and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 89,098, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
924 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
851 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
834 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 04
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
494 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 05
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
449 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 06
A tyre cords visible or damaged
385 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
321 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 08
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
288 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 09
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
274 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
274 occurrences · 0.9% 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.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£260–£665
If every one of this S Class's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a S Class?
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 S Class 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.