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Mercedes 814 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes 814 car check

Is the Mercedes 814 reliable? We analysed 2,035 real MOT tests across 258 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,035 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.5%
Typical Mileage
216,010mi
Annual Mileage
6,960mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Mercedes 814 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include statutory seat belt missing, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and service brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes 814.

Mercedes 814 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes 814. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes 814 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes 814 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.8%
2003
88.6%
2002
80.5%
2001
81.3%
1999
75.7%
1998
75.3%
1997
73.1%
1995
73.5%
1994
78.8%
1993
76.1%
1991
75.5%
1990
85.6%
1989
73%
1988
64.5%
1987

Mercedes 814 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes 814 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Statutory seat belt missing 32
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 21
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 20
Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush 19
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 16
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 16
Stop lamp not working 16
position lamp(s) not working 15
Side repeater not working 15
Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 13

Mercedes 814 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes 814 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,301 mi/yr
Typical
6,960 mi/yr
Average
10,221 mi/yr
Heavy usage
17,984 mi/yr

Mercedes 814 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes 814 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 129 86.8% 98,776 162,417 263,419
2002 79 88.6% 55,286 93,790 190,450
2001 87 80.5% 62,366 92,979 109,601
1999 96 81.3% 63,600 106,056 207,626
1998 70 75.7% 141,428 179,079 229,422
1997 73 75.3% 98,597 179,408 257,758
1995 78 73.1% 214,063 421,266 456,712
1994 117 73.5% 137,151 180,104 314,143
1993 66 78.8% 133,549 354,957 719,983
1991 71 76.1% 81,263 256,959 380,124
1990 53 75.5% 107,099 247,956 482,539
1989 111 85.6% 230,545 382,944 579,732
1988 74 73.0% 198,065 333,288 429,344
1987 76 64.5% 91,620 209,645 237,342

How Long Does a Mercedes 814 Last?

Based on 258 Mercedes 814 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.5 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Mercedes 814 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes 814 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
216,010 mi
75th Percentile
357,674 mi
95th Percentile
633,647 mi
Max Recorded
3,132,996 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes 814

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

Best year
2002

88.6% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

Year to avoid
1987

64.5% MOT pass rate from 76 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes 814 is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.6% across 79 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes 814 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes 814 THIS CAR 76.5% 2,035 216,010 mi 39 yrs
Mercedes Motorhome 76.7% 14,848 66,873 mi 45 yrs
Mercedes Unknown 79.2% 11,881 102,484 mi 39 yrs
Mercedes Camper 74.6% 8,342 82,260 mi 47 yrs
Mercedes-benz E 220 AMG Lne Night ED Prm D A 85.9% 2,953 42,632 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mercedes Motorhome (76.7% pass rate) and the Mercedes Unknown (79.2% pass rate), the Mercedes 814 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes 814?

The Mercedes 814 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.5% across 2,035 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Mercedes 814 are statutory seat belt missing (32 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (21), and service brake: efficiency below requirements (20). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mercedes 814 owner drives around 6,960 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 814 models stay on UK roads for around 39 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 814 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes 814 reliable?
Based on 2,035 MOT tests, the Mercedes 814 has a 76.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes 814?
The most common MOT failures are statutory seat belt missing, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and service brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes 814 do per year?
The typical Mercedes 814 does around 6,960 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes 814 last?
Most Mercedes 814 models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 258 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes 814?
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 814?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes 814 is 2002 with a 88.6% pass rate across 79 tests.