Does the Mercedes-Benz R-Class fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class records 5.80 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.39 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.59, 95% interval −1.08 to −0.10). It ranks 383 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Mercedes-Benz R-Class by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 205 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 205 | 2.01 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 157 | 1.54 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 75 | 0.73 |
| Emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values | 31 | 0.30 |
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 noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.9% of Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,664 miles later (1,386 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,386 (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 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz R-Class lamps, reflectors and electrics 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