Does the Mercedes-Benz 300 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz 300 records 8.78 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 14.96 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−6.18, 95% interval −6.74 to −5.62). It ranks 572 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Mercedes-Benz 300 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz 300 is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 317 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 317 | 1.74 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 225 | 1.24 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 216 | 1.19 |
| Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire | 126 | 0.69 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 92 | 0.51 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 18,189 (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 300 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.8% of Mercedes-Benz 300 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.4 months and 1,196 miles later (1,210 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,210 (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 300 in Norway · Mercedes-Benz 300 in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz 300 by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz 300 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 steering failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz 300 visibility failures