Does the Mercedes-Benz R-Class fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class records 20.28 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 18.36 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.92, 95% interval +1.05 to +2.80). It ranks 230 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mercedes-Benz R-Class by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded”, recorded 409 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 409 | 4.01 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 343 | 3.36 |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 156 | 1.53 |
| A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched | 154 | 1.51 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 140 | 1.37 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 10,206 (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 R-Class gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
14.8% of Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 6,263 miles later (1,973 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,973 (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 R-Class 2006 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class 2007 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class 2008 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class 2009 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class 2010 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class 2011 · Mercedes-Benz R-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz R-Class body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class steering failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class visibility failures