Mercedes-Benz SL 2020: MOT failure rate for its age
7.1% of 425 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz SL first registered in 2020 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 93.4 (95% CI 60.0–126.8; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2020 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 7.1 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 425 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 60.0–126.8) | 93.4 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 425 |
| Rank among this model's 23 build years | 6 | of 23 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 425 |
| Tested in 2024 | 212 | tests | median 15,338 miles | 2024 | 212 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz SL fail at each age?
Cars built in 2020 were tested at ages 3 to 4 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 213 (rough estimate) | 7 | 4.3–11.3 | 7.8 | 90.1 |
| 4 | 212 (rough estimate) | 7.1 | 4.3–11.3 | 7.3 | 96.9 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 425 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2020 compare with the years around it?
Among the 23 published build years of the Mercedes-Benz SL, 2020 ranks 6 (1 = fails least for its age). 2019: index 89.2.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 110.1 | 89.8–130.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 502 |
| 1999 | 95.8 | 80.1–111.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 794 |
| 2000 | 107.6 | 93.3–121.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,071 |
| 2001 | 94.0 | 79.3–108.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 894 |
| 2002 | 106.2 | 99.0–113.3 | no different | 4,277 |
| 2003 | 104.7 | 100.6–108.8 | worse | 12,529 |
| 2004 | 100.3 | 95.8–104.8 | no different | 10,173 |
| 2005 | 96.2 | 90.6–101.7 | no different | 6,298 |
| 2006 | 100.3 | 93.1–107.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,977 |
| 2007 | 98.6 | 90.9–106.3 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,454 |
| 2008 | 95.9 | 88.7–103.0 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,912 |
| 2009 | 103.0 | 93.9–112.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,661 |
| 2010 | 106.6 | 95.5–117.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,937 |
| 2011 | 90.6 | 78.2–103.0 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,415 |
| 2012 | 110.4 | 99.3–121.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,337 |
| 2013 | 109.1 | 102.4–115.8 | worse | 6,789 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 93.6–107.6 | no different | 6,428 |
| 2015 | 92.3 | 84.2–100.4 | no different | 4,934 |
| 2016 | 105.1 | 95.8–114.4 | no different | 4,690 |
| 2017 | 87.6 | 77.4–97.8 | better (rough estimate) | 3,452 |
| 2018 | 90.7 | 75.5–105.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,698 |
| 2019 | 89.2 | 70.9–107.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,252 |
| 2020 | 93.4 | 60.0–126.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 425 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 85,899 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Mercedes-Benz SL 2020 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mercedes-sl/2020/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz SL 1998 · Mercedes-Benz SL 1999 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2000 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2001 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2002 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2003 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2004 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2005 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2006 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2007 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2008 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2009 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2010 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2011 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2012 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2013 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2014 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2015 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2016 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2017 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2018 · Mercedes-Benz SL 2019 · Mercedes-Benz SL in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz SL by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz SL body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz SL brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz SL vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz SL lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz SL noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz SL road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz SL seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz SL steering failures · Mercedes-Benz SL suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz SL tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz SL visibility failures