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Mercedes-benz C200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz C200 car check

Is the Mercedes-benz C200 reliable? We analysed 684 real MOT tests across 106 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 684 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.6%
Typical Mileage
46,938mi
Annual Mileage
5,394mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Mercedes-benz C200 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz C200.

Mercedes-benz C200 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz C200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz C200 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz C200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.1%
2015
79.2%
2008
80%
2003

Mercedes-benz C200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz C200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4
coil spring broken 3

Mercedes-benz C200 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz C200 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4

Mercedes-benz C200 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz C200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,153 mi/yr
Typical
5,394 mi/yr
Average
6,006 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,219 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz C200 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz C200 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 101 91.1% 31,059 43,266 76,661
2008 53 79.2% 41,842 101,470 135,542
2003 50 80.0% 46,897 55,862 58,478

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz C200 Last?

Based on 106 Mercedes-benz C200 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.1 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Mercedes-benz C200 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz C200 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,938 mi
75th Percentile
71,538 mi
95th Percentile
130,025 mi
Max Recorded
288,589 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz C200

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

91.1% MOT pass rate from 101 tests

Year to avoid
2008

79.2% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz C200 is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.1% across 101 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes-benz C200 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz C200 THIS CAR 83.6% 684 46,938 mi 23 yrs
Mercedes-benz C 77.6% 8,031,355 77,082 mi 32 yrs
Mercedes-benz E 79.4% 4,722,746 83,960 mi 33 yrs
Mercedes-benz A-class 77.6% 4,204,702 57,023 mi 28 yrs
Kawasaki KDX200 81.1% 942 3,255 mi 37 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz C200 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Mercedes-benz C200 you like?

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz C200?

The Mercedes-benz C200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.6% across 684 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 4 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes-benz C200 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mercedes-benz C200 owner drives around 5,394 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz C200 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mercedes-benz C200 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz C200 reliable?
Based on 684 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz C200 has a 83.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz C200?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz C200 do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz C200 does around 5,394 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz C200 last?
Most Mercedes-benz C200 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 106 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz C200?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz C200?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz C200 is 2015 with a 91.1% pass rate across 101 tests.