Used car guide

2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs, from 11,454 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,454MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,500typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Ball joint2.7× usual
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    17% All 2007 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 3% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    21.5% All 2007 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.8% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Wheel bearings2.7× usual
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    7.8% All 2007 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 1.1% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Link ball joint covers1.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    6.5% All 2007 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 2% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Side repeaters2.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    3.9% All 2007 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.8% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 4.8% here, against 13.5% of all 2007 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 0.2% here, against 7.3% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    41% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    7% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Injector seals (diesel)
    Diesel

    Injector seals and other engine seals can leak on the diesels.

    At the viewing: Look for fuel or oil around the top of the engine.

    Source: Parkers: used Mercedes C-Class 2007-2014 review

  • Dual-mass flywheel (manual diesel)
    Manual diesel

    Manual diesels can wear out their dual-mass flywheel. Above 60,000 miles, check whether it's been done.

    At the viewing: Listen for a rattle at idle and judder pulling away.

    If it needs doing: Clutch and dual-mass flywheel, about £650–£1,200. ClickMechanic

    Source: Parkers: used Mercedes C-Class 2007-2014 review

  • Harsh 7G-Tronic automatic
    Automatic

    Later automatics can change gear harshly, and repairs are expensive.

    At the viewing: Check changes are smooth from cold and at low speed.

    If it needs doing: Gearbox sensor or solenoid, about £200–£500. ClickMechanic

    Source: Parkers: used Mercedes C-Class 2007-2014 review

  • Water pump and sensors (petrol)
    Petrol

    Water pumps can leak, and air flow or crankshaft sensors cause rough running.

    At the viewing: Look for coolant leaks and check it idles smoothly.

    If it needs doing: Water pump, about £115–£375. ClickMechanic

    Source: Parkers: used Mercedes C-Class 2007-2014 review

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,604Tyres 27%
20215,709Tyres 27%
20209,919Tyres 30%
201924,634Tyres 29%
201828,346Tyres 29%
201739,535Tyres 29%
201636,616Tyres 30%
201534,042Tyres 30%
201425,210Tyres 32%
201323,494Suspension 33%
201225,753Brakes 40%
201118,838Brakes 40%
201012,845Brakes 40%
200912,668Suspension 43%
200813,214Suspension 44%
20068,786Suspension 57%
20057,282Suspension 59%
20045,380Suspension 59%
20033,648Suspension 54%
20022,021Suspension 49%
20011,080Suspension 46%
2000523Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score