Does the Mercedes-Benz SL fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SL records 2.13 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.67 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.54, 95% interval −4.69 to −4.39). It ranks 651 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 SL by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SL is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 654 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 654 | 0.59 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 573 | 0.52 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 389 | 0.35 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 334 | 0.30 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 170 | 0.15 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 110,850 (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 SL gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.3% of Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 822 miles later (3,767 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,767 (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 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 2020 · 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 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