Does the Mercedes-Benz SLK fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz SLK records 12.17 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 25.73 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−13.56, 95% interval −13.75 to −13.38). It ranks 665 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz SLK by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz SLK is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 5,678 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 5,678 | 1.90 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 4,903 | 1.64 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 3,084 | 1.03 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3,070 | 1.03 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,685 | 0.90 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.9% of Mercedes-Benz SLK MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 2,137 miles later (6,275 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,275 (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 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz SLK vehicle identification 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