1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class · 1,520 MOT tests
1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability
1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs fail 29.3% of first MOT tests, 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 5 of 25 C-Class years (1,520 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Mercedes-Benz C-Classs: 24%)
- 29.3%
- first-time fail rate (all Mercedes-Benz C-Classs: 24%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 22% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 25
- 114,767
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 25
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 1,520
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
1997 against the years either side
- 1996 cars: 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 1997 car does worse)
- 1998 cars: 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 1997 car does better)
- Strong point: steering, 60% fewer fails than comparable cars.
Common problems
What fails on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics14.3%
- Suspension8.4%
- Brakes7.9%
- Body, chassis and structure5.1%
- Tyres4.3%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.2%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.6%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 2.96%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Stop lamp not working 2.83%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.11%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.11%
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
Direction indicator wrong colour 1.97%
An indicator showing the wrong colour may confuse other drivers, so the lens or bulb should be replaced.
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 1.97%
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Common advisories
Brake pipes corroded and greasy (19.54%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (16.71%) · Coil spring showing some corrosion (15.2%) · Tyre worn close to legal limit (13.62%) · Tyre slightly damaged or cracking (7.63%) · Transmission oil leak, not excessive (7.57%)
Other years
Every Mercedes-Benz C-Class year
The full picture: Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability. Before you pay for any Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a Full Check (£9.99) shows finance, stolen and write-off records the MOT can't.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable?
1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs fail 29.3% of first MOT tests, 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 5 of 25 C-Class years (1,520 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (2.96% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.83% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (2.11% of tests).
How many miles should a 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have done?
At its MOT aged about 25, a typical 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows 114,767 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
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