Does the Mercedes-Benz B-Class fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class records 0.49 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.53 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.04, 95% interval −2.09 to −1.99). It ranks 486 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 B-Class by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc”, recorded 569 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 569 | 0.15 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 555 | 0.14 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 423 | 0.11 |
| Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive | 83 | 0.02 |
| Steering lock missing or not functioning | 74 | 0.02 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 391,293 (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 B-Class gets a steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.1% of Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,962 miles later (1,698 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,698 (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 B-Class 2005 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2006 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2007 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2008 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2009 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2010 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2011 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2012 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2013 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2014 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2015 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2016 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2017 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2018 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2019 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2020 · Mercedes-Benz B-Class in Norway · Mercedes-Benz B-Class in Finland · Mercedes-Benz B-Class in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz B-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz B-Class body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz B-Class visibility failures