Does the Mercedes-Benz SL fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SL records 1.57 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.99 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.42, 95% interval −3.56 to −3.29). It ranks 572 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Mercedes-Benz SL by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SL is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated”, recorded 746 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 746 | 0.67 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 379 | 0.34 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 328 | 0.30 |
| Steering box leaking oil | 63 | 0.06 |
| Steering lock missing or not functioning | 51 | 0.05 |
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 steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.4% of Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 1,452 miles later (1,237 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,237 (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 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz SL road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz SL seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz SL suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz SL tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz SL visibility failures