Does the Mercedes-Benz SLK fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SLK records 9.14 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 16.59 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−7.45, 95% interval −7.59 to −7.30). It ranks 615 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 SLK by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SLK is “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded”, recorded 7,191 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 7,191 | 2.40 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 2,403 | 0.80 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,393 | 0.80 |
| Warning device shows system malfunction | 2,357 | 0.79 |
| ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction | 1,981 | 0.66 |
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 brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.5% of Mercedes-Benz SLK MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,683 miles later (45,923 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 45,923 (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 body, chassis and structure 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