Does the Mercedes-Benz SLK fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SLK records 1.55 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 9.28 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−7.73, 95% interval −7.84 to −7.62). It ranks 592 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Mercedes-Benz SLK by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SLK is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 1,540 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 1,540 | 0.51 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 462 | 0.15 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 337 | 0.11 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 290 | 0.10 |
| A driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. | 279 | 0.09 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 299,040 (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 SLK gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.2% of Mercedes-Benz SLK MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,444 miles later (7,939 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,939 (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 SLK 1999 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2000 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2001 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2002 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2003 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2004 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2005 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2006 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2007 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2008 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2009 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2010 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2011 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2012 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2013 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2014 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2015 · Mercedes-Benz SLK 2016 · Mercedes-Benz SLK in Norway · Mercedes-Benz SLK in Finland · Mercedes-Benz SLK in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz SLK by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz SLK brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK steering failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK visibility failures