Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class records 9.17 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 16.07 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−6.90, 95% interval −6.95 to −6.84). It ranks 562 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 C-Class by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 36,717 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 | 36,717 | 1.77 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 18,089 | 0.87 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 17,368 | 0.84 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 15,272 | 0.74 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 13,696 | 0.66 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,072,470 (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 C-Class gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
25.3% of Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,564 miles later (15,098 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 15,098 (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 C-Class 1998 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 1999 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2000 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2001 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2002 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2003 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2004 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2005 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2006 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2007 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2008 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2009 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2010 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2011 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2012 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2013 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2014 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2015 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2016 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2017 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2018 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2019 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2020 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Finland · Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Norway · Mercedes-Benz C-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz C-Class body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class steering failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz C-Class visibility failures