Luxury car · 1996–2021 cars

Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliability

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class fails 15.8% of first MOT tests, 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 107,751 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 92/100#8 of 14 luxury cars

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

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 15.8%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 46% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 107,751; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 9,800; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Mercedes-Benz S-Class ages

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

Mercedes-Benz S-ClassAll cars

Mercedes-Benz S-Class first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	All cars
3	6.2%	12.3%
4	8.3%	14.1%
5	8.4%	16.4%
6	10.2%	19.1%
7	11.4%	22.1%
8	11.7%	25.5%
9	13.3%	28.8%
10	18.3%	31.8%
11	19.1%	34.6%
12	20.4%	37.3%
13	20.8%	39.5%
14	26%	41.1%
15	26.1%	42.3%
16	24.2%	42.9%
17	22.5%	43.4%
18	23.2%	43.5%
19	27.2%	43.4%
20	26.5%	42.8%
21	28.5%	41.4%
22	30.8%	40.6%
23	31.1%	38.9%
24	27.1%	37.1%
25	26.7%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Mercedes-Benz S-Class years

2018 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	683	2.6%	82% fewer fails	38,546
2020 S-Class	1,594	6.4%	58% fewer fails	43,907
2019 S-Class	9,152	7%	59% fewer fails	51,355
2018 S-Class	10,910	7.4%	60% fewer fails	55,371
2017 S-Class	10,317	10.2%	48% fewer fails	53,957
2016 S-Class	11,536	11.3%	48% fewer fails	54,914
2015 S-Class	9,349	11.7%	54% fewer fails	70,311
2014 S-Class	6,801	11.7%	59% fewer fails	80,173
2013 S-Class	3,873	18.5%	43% fewer fails	93,767
2012 S-Class	4,948	20.4%	41% fewer fails	89,884
2011 S-Class	3,784	19.6%	47% fewer fails	101,671
2010 S-Class	3,543	20.2%	49% fewer fails	103,606
2009 S-Class	3,482	26.6%	35% fewer fails	104,567
2008 S-Class	4,045	24.6%	42% fewer fails	107,295
2007 S-Class	5,403	24.6%	43% fewer fails	114,279
2006 S-Class	4,410	22.6%	48% fewer fails	106,947
2005 S-Class	2,397	25.3%	43% fewer fails	126,618
2004 S-Class	2,568	26.3%	41% fewer fails	120,533
2003 S-Class	2,721	26%	41% fewer fails	116,835
2002 S-Class	1,598	29.4%	31% fewer fails	108,454
2001 S-Class	1,483	29.8%	28% fewer fails	103,589
2000 S-Class	1,283	32.3%	18% fewer fails	100,807
1999	877	28.3%	26% fewer fails	97,515
1998	697	26.7%	28% fewer fails	104,903
1997	229	25.8%	30% fewer fails	105,230

Common problems

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Tyres4.6%28% below avg
Suspension4.4%53% below avg
Brakes4%45% below avg
Lights and electrics3.8%69% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.5%30% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2%59% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.9%26% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.8%80% below avg
Wheels0.7%69% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.04% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.65% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.89% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.71% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 0.68% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
6
Diesel engine warning light faulty 0.67% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
7
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 0.65% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
8
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 0.63% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit11.01%
Brake disc pitted or scored5.06%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.96%
Brake pads wearing thin4.56%
Suspension ball joint slight play3.76%
Engine oil leak, not excessive3.2%

Before you buy

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

1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
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.
4
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
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
The mileage record
A typical Mercedes-Benz S-Class covers about 9,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
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

Diesel70.8%
Petrol25.2%
Hybrid3.9%
Electric0.1%
LPG0%
Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Silver, Blue, Grey, White

Average engine size: 3.4 litres.

Compare

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

Mercedes-Benz S-Class against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Continental	7.4%	70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A8	13.2%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Panamera	10%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 7 Series	15.9%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	15.8%	46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XJ	22.6%	35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 8 Series	10.9%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

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

Questions

Mercedes-Benz S-Class questions, answered

Is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable?

On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is better than average: it fails 15.8% of first MOT tests, 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 8 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

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

The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class are suspension ball joint excessively worn (2.04% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.65% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (0.89% of tests). By area, tyres fails 4.6% of its tests.

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

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2018 cars do best (60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

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

A typical Mercedes-Benz S-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 S-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.

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