MOT Risk Index.co.uk

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.

Mercedes-Benz SL: most frequent steering defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated7460.67
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play3790.34
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc3280.30
Steering box leaking oil630.06
Steering lock missing or not functioning510.05

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