Used car guide · 1990–2026

Mercedes-Benz S-Class common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz S-Class, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 77,234 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Cars registered in 2024 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as a whole.

452on the UK register at the end of 2025
2027first MOT due
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 2024 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319911990

What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Ball joint

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2003.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    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.

Diesel

  • Ball joint

    up to 6.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 5.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

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

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

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Flexible couplings

    up to 36× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Hybrid

  • Ball joint

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015.

    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.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class did best (77% passed first time, 21 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2023 did worst (95%, 3 points above all 2023 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +3513
202295%89% +6651
202190%87% +3148 (small sample)
202093%87% +6775
201991%85% +66,969
201890%83% +76,939
201787%80% +77,115
201687%77% +108,055
201587%74% +136,498
201487%70% +174,832
201380%67% +132,929
201278%64% +143,634
201179%62% +172,761
201079%60% +192,549
200973%59% +142,529
200873%57% +162,858
200775%57% +183,814
200677%56% +213,082
200571%57% +141,569
200475%57% +181,856
200373%57% +161,931
200271%58% +131,143
200171%60% +111,009
200070%61% +9748
199970%63% +7491 (small sample)
199875%65% +10501
199775%65% +10351 (small sample)
199680%66% +14318 (small sample)
199575%67% +8257 (small sample)
199481%67% +14148 (small sample)
199184%71% +13133 (small sample)
199077%72% +5128 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 6.1× as often on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 5.7× as often on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score