Does the Mercedes-Benz M-Class fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz M-Class records 7.06 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.11 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.05, 95% interval −1.17 to −0.93). It ranks 395 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 M-Class by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 8,194 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 8,194 | 3.88 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,646 | 1.25 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 589 | 0.28 |
| Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire | 518 | 0.25 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 476 | 0.23 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 211,108 (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 M-Class gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
13.4% of Mercedes-Benz M-Class MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,340 miles later (2,931 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,931 (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 M-Class 1999 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2000 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2001 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2002 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2003 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2004 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2005 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2006 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2007 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2008 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2009 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2010 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2011 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2012 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2013 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2014 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2015 · Mercedes-Benz M-Class in Norway · Mercedes-Benz M-Class in Finland · Mercedes-Benz M-Class in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz M-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz M-Class brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class steering failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz M-Class visibility failures