Does the Mercedes-Benz SLC fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SLC records 1.19 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.14 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.95, 95% interval −3.15 to −2.76). It ranks 496 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mercedes-Benz SLC by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SLC is “Warning device shows system malfunction”, recorded 107 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Warning device shows system malfunction | 107 | 0.25 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 105 | 0.25 |
| ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction | 72 | 0.17 |
| Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator | 50 | 0.12 |
| Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 36 | 0.08 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 42,512 (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 SLC gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.8% of Mercedes-Benz SLC MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,648 miles later (1,069 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,069 (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 SLC 2016 · Mercedes-Benz SLC 2017 · Mercedes-Benz SLC 2018 · Mercedes-Benz SLC 2019 · Mercedes-Benz SLC 2020 · Mercedes-Benz SLC by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz SLC vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC steering failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz SLC visibility failures