Car statistics by year

2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars first registered in 2021: 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 2021, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. “2021” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
1,814 MOT tests of 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 91.7% All 2021 cars 88.4%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 25,100 miles; all 2021 cars 30,700
  • Left at the end of 2025 1,734 97.3% of the 1,783 at the end of 2021
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 2.4% All 2021 cars 3.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 25.6% All 2021 cars 33.1%
  • MOT tests in 2025 1,814 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 4 years old, 91.7% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 88.4% for all cars first registered in 2021. 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes did better than average for their age, by 3.3 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 90.9% of the time (all 2021 cars 88.7%).

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 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords was the most common single reason a 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class failed, on 30.7% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (54.0% of failed tests; all 2021 cars 41.9%). 2.4% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 3.8% for all cars first registered in 2021. 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 30.7%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 12.0%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 10.7%
Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 9.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs all 2021 cars

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

Share of failed 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2021 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 54.0%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 20.7%
Visibility 15.3%
Brakes 6.7%
Suspension 5.3%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 4.0%
Body, chassis, structure 2.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks 2.7%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 25.6% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests had at least one (all 2021 cars 33.1%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 10.5%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 6.0%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 3.1%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.3%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 1.9%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories 1.9%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.6%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 1.0%
Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres 0.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 0.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class?

Half of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 25,100 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 17,600 and a quarter more than 35,400. For all cars first registered in 2021, the middle figure was 30,700 miles, so 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes have been driven 18.2% 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, 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class and all 2021 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 11,300 17,600 25,100 35,400 48,100 1,727
All 2021 cars 14,300 21,300 30,700 42,500 56,500 1,457,950
miles

Half of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 25,100 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes are left?

At the end of 2021, 1,783 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 1,734 were: 1,725 licensed and 9 declared off the road (SORN). That is 97.3% still on the record, against 96.0% for all cars first registered in 2021.

Share still on the record since 2021

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2021. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2021, compared with all 2021 cars
Year end 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-ClassAll 2021 cars
2021 100.0%100.0%
2022 98.8%98.4%
2023 97.9%97.6%
2024 94.4%94.7%
2025 97.3%96.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2021

9 of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class’s 47 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2021. 3 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2021 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2021 may have been built in 2020, 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 2021
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)

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 1,814 MOT tests of 2021 Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 1,734 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 2021; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2021.
  • 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.