Does the Mercedes-Benz 190 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz 190 records 3.81 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.64 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.83, 95% interval −4.29 to −3.36). It ranks 588 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Mercedes-Benz 190 by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz 190 is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 184 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 184 | 1.37 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 155 | 1.15 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 82 | 0.61 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,451 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mercedes-Benz 190 gets a steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.4% of Mercedes-Benz 190 MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 2,184 miles later (501 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 501 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz 190 in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz 190 by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz 190 body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz 190 visibility failures