Used car guide

2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLCs, from 2,250 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,250MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
4,700typical miles a year
4.8×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLCs than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Wheel bearings4.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.9% All 2016 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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 covers3.4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.4% All 2016 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2016 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.

  • Wheels2.4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.6% All 2016 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Brake pads: 3.6% here, against 10.2% of all 2016 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.9% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Suspension
    11% 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
    10% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% 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
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    1% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020605Tyres 26%
2019990Tyres 28%
20181,492Tyres 28%
20173,425Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLCs registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score