CarVerify

Free Car Check

F938 JHA

1989 Mercedes-benz 420

Red Petrol 4196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Jul 2027
Tests21 (17 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81%

Mileage

53,815 mi
Last recorded53,815 miles
Recorded on20 Jul 2026
Typical for 1989 Mercedes-benz 420104,245 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationF938 JHA
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

17 pass 4 fail
Pass 20 Jul 2026 53,815 miles

exhaust rear silencer corroded (holes)

front subframe bushes weak/worn

nearside front trackrod end ball joint - dust cover deteriorated/split

offside rear parking brake weak

slight play/movement in steering joints

Fail 22 Apr 2026 53,797 miles

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

exhaust rear silencer corroded (holes)

nearside front trackrod end ball joint- dust cover deteriorated/split

rear brake discs corroded/worn/scored

slight play in steering joints

Pass 15 May 2024 53,326 miles

nearside front trackrod end ball joint - dust cover deteriorated/split

offside rear brake binding slightly - (requires attention)

rear brake discs corroded/scored

Pass 5 Aug 2022 52,761 miles
Fail 29 Jul 2022 52,759 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 2 Jun 2021 52,533 miles

Nearside Front lens broken

Rear Exhaust poor condition

Pass 20 May 2020 52,208 miles

Nearside Front indicator lens broke

Rear exhaust box poor condition

Pass 30 Jul 2018 52,048 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2017 51,524 miles

rear silencer deteriorated but not blowing

Fail 20 Jun 2017 51,524 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

rear silencer deteriorated but not blowing

Pass 17 Jun 2016 51,155 miles

rear silencer deteriorated but not blowing

Pass 15 Jun 2015 50,580 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2015 50,505 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Rear Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 12 Jun 2014 50,169 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2013 50,019 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 19 Jun 2012 49,378 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2011 49,125 miles
Pass 24 May 2010 49,000 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2009 48,497 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2007 48,139 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2006 48,096 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 420?

Based on 24,311 MOT tests across 2,343 vehicles.

75.7%
Pass Rate
809
Miles/Year
40
Year Lifespan
2,343
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 577
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 565
brake binding 530
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 479
Full Mercedes-benz 420 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

F938 JHA is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 420 in Red with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81%.

Across all 1989 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.1% with a typical mileage of 104,245 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz 420 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 647 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F938 JHA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 420 typically stays on UK roads for around 40 years. At 37 years old, this Mercedes-benz 420 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F938 JHA?

You can check the full history of F938 JHA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F938 JHA registered?

F938 JHA is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 17 May 1989.

Is F938 JHA safe to buy?

The MOT history for F938 JHA shows 21 tests with a 81% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F938 JHA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on F938 JHA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.