GetFreeCarCheck
Check a car free

Free checks

Full history · from £4.99

Research

Full Check £9.99 · 3 Full Checks £14.99 · Finance & Stolen Check £4.99

Executive car · 1996–2021 cars

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class fails 21% of first MOT tests, 27% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 870,398 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 75/100#22 of 40 executive cars

Checking a Mercedes-Benz E-Class before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
21%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
27% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
870,398
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
9,800
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The E-Class has 27% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, and ranks 22 of 40 executive car models. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 21%, against 28.4% for all cars. 2007 is the best year, with 32% fewer fails than comparable cars. Wheels are the weak spot, with 141% more fails there than comparable cars.

Check these before you buy, as they cause the most failures. Tyres come first: tread below 1.6mm (2.22% of tests) and exposed ply or cords (1.83%). Next are worn suspension ball joints (1.72%) and fractured or broken coil springs (1.57%). Look closely at the tyres and wheels, and have a mechanic inspect the suspension on a lift. A car with these faults can still be a good buy if you factor the repairs into your price.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Mercedes-Benz E-Class ages

Each point is the share of Mercedes-Benz E-Classs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%12.5%25%37.5%50%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Mercedes-Benz E-ClassAll cars
Mercedes-Benz E-Class first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Mercedes-Benz E-ClassAll cars
312.1%12.3%
412.6%14.1%
513.7%16.4%
615%19.1%
716.8%22.1%
819.5%25.5%
922.4%28.8%
1024.2%31.8%
1126.1%34.6%
1227.2%37.3%
1328.2%39.5%
1429.4%41.1%
1530.2%42.3%
1631.4%42.9%
1732.5%43.4%
1832.5%43.5%
1932.8%43.4%
2032.7%42.8%
2132.5%41.4%
2233.3%40.6%
2332.1%38.9%
2431.7%37.1%
2529.8%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Mercedes-Benz E-Class years

2007 cars come out best and 2001 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
2021 E-Class4,7559.7%30% fewer fails34,360
2020 E-Class22,20711.9%16% fewer fails35,151
2019 E-Class66,44911.7%25% fewer fails40,407
2018 E-Class81,31213.5%22% fewer fails46,662
2017 E-Class85,94114.3%30% fewer fails61,184
2016 E-Class79,51415.7%32% fewer fails66,885
2015 E-Class81,30318.9%28% fewer fails74,736
2014 E-Class78,48820.9%29% fewer fails81,000
2013 E-Class72,86824.4%25% fewer fails88,244
2012 E-Class55,91226.5%25% fewer fails95,070
2011 E-Class52,96226.5%29% fewer fails99,824
2010 E-Class45,47427.8%30% fewer fails104,823
2009 E-Class26,72929.7%29% fewer fails112,778
2008 E-Class16,89830.8%29% fewer fails125,631
2007 E-Class21,46630%32% fewer fails129,857
2006 E-Class14,91631.9%28% fewer fails129,426
2005 E-Class17,23233.3%26% fewer fails133,311
2004 E-Class17,48932.9%27% fewer fails136,371
2003 E-Class12,88832.8%27% fewer fails132,994
2002 E-Class4,34232.4%25% fewer fails117,949
2001 E-Class3,10935.5%15% fewer fails108,643
2000 E-Class2,32232.2%20% fewer fails103,059
1999 E-Class2,41331.9%19% fewer fails111,496
1998 E-Class2,44031%18% fewer fails114,079
199768534.6%7% fewer fails104,939
199628430.6%18% fewer fails117,330

Common problems

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Its weak spot is wheels: 141% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Tyres7.8%17% above avg
  • Suspension6.4%30% below avg
  • Brakes5.2%25% below avg
  • Lights and electrics4.1%64% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.4%25% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.7%64% below avg
  • Wheels1%141% above avg
  • Body, chassis and structure0.8%78% below avg
  • Steering0.6%71% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.22% of tests

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  2. 2

    Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.83% of tests

    Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

  3. 3

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn 1.72% of tests

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  4. 4

    Coil spring fractured or broken 1.57% of tests

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  5. 5

    Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.31% of tests

    A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

  6. 6

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.21% of tests

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  7. 7

    Diesel engine warning light faulty 0.95% of tests

    A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

  8. 8

    Parking brake efficiency below minimum 0.85% of tests

    The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class's MOT certificate most often.

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit13.52%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.2%
  • Brake pads wearing thin5.94%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored4.97%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.03%
  • Brake discs showing some wear2.67%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class

  1. 1

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  2. 2

    Tyre ply or cords exposed

    Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

  3. 3

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  4. 4

    Coil spring fractured or broken

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Mercedes-Benz E-Class covers about 9,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Diesel86.1%
  • Petrol10.7%
  • Hybrid3.2%
  • LPG0%
  • Other0%
  • Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, Silver, Grey, White, Blue

Average engine size: 2.4 litres.

Compare

How the Mercedes-Benz E-Class compares with its rivals

Mercedes-Benz E-Class against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Audi A620.1%36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 5 Series20.4%35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A519.7%30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz E-Class21%27% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 3 Series24.3%26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A426.5%21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz C-Class24%18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Mercedes-Benz models.

Questions

Mercedes-Benz E-Class questions, answered

Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is better than average: it fails 21% of first MOT tests, 27% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 22 of 40 executive car models in our index.

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.22% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.83% of tests), suspension ball joint excessively worn (1.72% of tests). By area, tyres fails 7.8% of its tests.

Which Mercedes-Benz E-Class year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2001 cars do worst (15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class do a year?

A typical Mercedes-Benz E-Class covers about 9,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Mercedes-Benz E-Class before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

Found a Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Check it free.

MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.