Does the Mercedes-Benz 320 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz 320 records 21.18 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 33.99 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−12.81, 95% interval −14.98 to −10.64). It ranks 653 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz 320 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz 320 is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 100 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 100 | 3.61 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 54 | 1.95 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 53 | 1.91 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 52 | 1.88 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 44 | 1.59 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,771 (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
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz 320 body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 steering failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 visibility failures