Car statistics by year

2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars first registered in 2018: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2018, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. “2018” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
3,973 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 83.5% All 2018 cars 81.8%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 40,400 miles; all 2018 cars 50,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 3,893 100.6% of the 3,870 at the end of 2018
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.4% All 2018 cars 5.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 39.1% All 2018 cars 43.2%
  • MOT tests in 2025 3,973 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 7 years old, 83.5% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 81.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes did better than average for their age, by 1.7 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 86.0% of the time (all 2018 cars 83.4%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Mercedes-Benz B-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz B-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz B-ClassAll cars
’11 58.8%61.5%
’12 69.3%63.6%
’13 71.1%66.0%
’14 71.8%69.1%
’15 76.6%72.6%
’16 79.2%75.6%
’17 80.4%79.1%
’18 83.5%81.8%
’19 89.2%84.4%
’20 90.0%86.9%
’21 91.7%88.4%
’22 91.0%89.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps was the most common single reason a 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class failed, on 14.2% of about 700 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (43.8% of failed tests; all 2018 cars 30.9%). 6.4% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 5.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 14.2%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 12.8%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 12.7%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 9.3%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 8.1%
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 5.6%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 5.5%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 5.3%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 5.2%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 4.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs all 2018 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2018 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 43.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 25.8%
Suspension 14.0%
Visibility 11.9%
Brakes 10.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks 5.6%
Road wheels 4.1%
Body, chassis, structure 2.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 39.1% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests had at least one (all 2018 cars 43.2%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 13.3%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 10.8%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 8.5%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 4.0%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 3.5%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 3.4%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories 2.6%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.7%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 1.7%
Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres 1.5%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class?

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 40,400 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 28,600 and a quarter more than 54,500. For all cars first registered in 2018, the middle figure was 50,000 miles, so 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes have been driven 19.2% less far than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class and all 2018 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 19,700 28,600 40,400 54,500 71,500 3,857
All 2018 cars 24,300 35,700 50,000 66,600 85,300 2,108,837
miles

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 40,400 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes are left?

At the end of 2018, 3,870 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 3,893 were: 3,862 licensed and 31 declared off the road (SORN). That is 100.6% still on the record, against 96.1% for all cars first registered in 2018.

Share still on the record since 2018

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2018. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2018, compared with all 2018 cars
Year end 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-ClassAll 2018 cars
2018 100.0%100.0%
2019 99.3%99.9%
2020 99.0%98.2%
2021 100.0%95.9%
2022 100.2%97.2%
2023 100.0%97.0%
2024 100.6%96.7%
2025 100.6%96.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2018

17 of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class’s 47 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2018. 3 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2018 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2018 may have been built in 2017, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class recalls whose build dates include 2018
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
6 May 2024 SRPC2404 – Backup function of steering software 2 Jul 2018 to 31 Jan 2024 10,592
29 Nov 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 50,390 (all models)
13 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 108,971 (all models)
11 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 86,604 (all models)
10 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 90,716 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 162,581 (all models)
5 May 2021 The emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 106,665 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 10,410 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 81,267 (all models)
30 Mar 2021 The communication module may be deactivated 3 May 2016 to 2 Jul 2020 24 (all models)
6 Oct 2020 THE EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM (eCall) DOES NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATION 1 Mar 2017 to 30 Sept 2018 3,127 (all models)
18 Sept 2019 The software of the radar control unit may not meet specification 1 Feb 2017 to 31 Jul 2019 294 (all models)
30 Jul 2019 The software of the transmission control unit might not meet specification. 1 Jul 2018 to 28 Feb 2019 1,209 (all models)
10 Apr 2019 The driver might temporarily not be able to deactivate the high beam with the high beam lever. 1 Jul 2018 to 28 Feb 2019 957 (all models)
1 Apr 2019 The locknuts securing the airbag might be insufficiently tightened 1 Aug 2018 to 31 Dec 2018 3 (all models)
27 Feb 2019 The calibration of the front passenger seat occupant clasification system may not correspond to specifications 1 Jan 2018 to 28 Feb 2018 163 (all models)
19 Nov 2018 Doors on left vehicle side (passenger side) remain permanently locked after the vehicle has been locked/unlocked with the remote control key 1 Oct 2017 to 30 Apr 2018 5,030 (all models)

Every Mercedes-Benz B-Class recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class

17 years of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2012 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (69.3% passed first time) and the 2011 cars worst (58.8%).

Mercedes-Benz B-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2006 1,867 56.5% 56.9%
2007 2,331 55.6% 57.3%
2008 3,090 55.2% 57.0%
2009 3,944 58.2% 58.2%
2010 4,251 58.3% 59.3%
2011 3,360 58.8% 61.5%
2012 5,574 69.3% 63.6%
2013 6,947 71.1% 66.0%
2014 8,097 8,100 71.8% 69.1%
2015 5,502 5,642 76.6% 72.6%
2016 5,210 5,265 79.2% 75.6%
2017 5,296 5,636 80.4% 79.1%
2018 3,870 3,893 83.5% 81.8%
2019 3,973 4,155 89.2% 84.4%
2020 2,741 2,820 90.0% 86.9%
2021 1,783 1,734 91.7% 88.4%
2022 1,243 1,213 91.0% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 3,973 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 3,893 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars first registered in 2018; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2018.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.