Car statistics by year
2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars first registered in 2003: 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 2003, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 58.9% All 2003 cars 58.9%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 104,600 miles; all 2003 cars 100,300
- Left at the end of 2025 6,505 24.8% of the 26,228 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 9.6% All 2003 cars 9.1%
- Tests with an advisory 72.4% All 2003 cars 69.0%
- MOT tests in 2025 3,640 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 22 years old, 58.9% of 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 58.9% for all cars first registered in 2003. 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes did about as well as average for their age. A year earlier the same cars passed 57.6% of the time (all 2003 cars 57.4%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz C-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 C-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’97 | 68.1% | 68.5% |
| ’98 | 71.3% | 67.1% |
| ’99 | 68.4% | 65.4% |
| ’00 | 67.4% | 63.1% |
| ’01 | 63.2% | 61.5% |
| ’02 | 63.8% | 59.7% |
| ’03 | 58.9% | 58.9% |
| ’04 | 58.3% | 57.9% |
| ’05 | 59.7% | 57.7% |
| ’06 | 58.9% | 56.9% |
| ’07 | 61.6% | 57.3% |
| ’08 | 63.7% | 57.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed, on 16.8% of about 1,500 failed tests. By area of the car, suspension failed most often (46.2% of failed tests; all 2003 cars 37.7%). 9.6% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.1% for all cars first registered in 2003. 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.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 16.8% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 13.8% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.5% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.2% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.2% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 7.9% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.8% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 6.8% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play Steering | 6.6% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 6.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs all 2003 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 46.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 39.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 26.0% |
| Brakes | 24.5% |
| Visibility | 17.8% |
| Tyres | 16.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.2% |
| Steering | 9.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 72.4% of 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class tests had at least one (all 2003 cars 69.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 21.4% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 19.3% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 12.9% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 10.5% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.9% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.2% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 8.7% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 8.1% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 7.9% |
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 7.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Half of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 104,600 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 77,600 and a quarter more than 133,600. For all cars first registered in 2003, the middle figure was 100,300 miles, so 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes have been driven 4.3% further 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%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 57,200 | 77,600 | 104,600 | 133,600 | 162,300 | 3,414 |
| All 2003 cars | 50,300 | 72,000 | 100,300 | 133,000 | 167,000 | 234,392 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes are left?
At the end of 2014, 26,228 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 6,505 were: 3,011 licensed and 3,494 declared off the road (SORN). That is 24.8% still on the record, against 23.0% for all cars first registered in 2003.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | All 2003 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 94.7% | 91.9% |
| 2016 | 88.4% | 82.8% |
| 2017 | 79.9% | 71.0% |
| 2018 | 69.9% | 59.8% |
| 2019 | 59.9% | 50.5% |
| 2020 | 52.1% | 43.6% |
| 2021 | 43.9% | 37.0% |
| 2022 | 37.7% | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 33.0% | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 28.3% | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 24.8% | 23.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2003
5 of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s 153 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2003. 11 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2003 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2003 may have been built in 2002, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb 2023 | The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame might not meet specifications. | 14 Mar 2000 to 15 Dec 2010 | 3,267 (all models) |
| 6 Feb 2023 | The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame might not meet specifications | 14 Mar 2000 to 15 Dec 2010 | 16,535 (all models) |
| 6 Feb 2023 | On affected vehicles the bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame might not meet specifications. In consequence a separation of the glass panel from the vehicle cannot be excluded. | 14 Mar 2000 to 15 Dec 2010 | 9,567 (all models) |
| 4 May 2020 | The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may not meet specifications | 24 Mar 2000 to 15 Jul 2010 | 18,132 (all models) |
| 9 Jan 2004 | Rear seat belts may not engage correctly | 1 Aug 2003 to 1 Oct 2003 | 4,372 |
Every Mercedes-Benz C-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 C-Class
26 years of the Mercedes-Benz C-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 2008 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (63.7% passed first time) and the 2021 cars worst (87.2%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | – | 1,845 | 68.1% |
| 1998 | – | 2,285 | 71.3% |
| 1999 | – | 1,915 | 68.4% |
| 2000 | – | 1,663 | 67.4% |
| 2001 | – | 3,195 | 63.2% |
| 2002 | – | 4,949 | 63.8% |
| 2003 | – | 6,505 | 58.9% |
| 2004 | – | 7,599 | 58.3% |
| 2005 | – | 9,182 | 59.7% |
| 2006 | – | 9,911 | 58.9% |
| 2007 | – | 12,227 | 61.6% |
| 2008 | – | 13,509 | 63.7% |
| 2009 | – | 12,664 | 64.4% |
| 2010 | – | 13,174 | 66.0% |
| 2011 | – | 19,726 | 67.5% |
| 2012 | – | 27,111 | 67.4% |
| 2013 | – | 24,348 | 69.8% |
| 2014 | 30,378 | 25,966 | 75.2% |
| 2015 | 38,782 | 34,165 | 78.0% |
| 2016 | 40,101 | 35,037 | 80.4% |
| 2017 | 39,798 | 36,933 | 81.6% |
| 2018 | 28,299 | 26,082 | 83.9% |
| 2019 | 23,131 | 22,545 | 85.6% |
| 2020 | 9,649 | 9,241 | 85.8% |
| 2021 | 6,155 | 5,660 | 87.2% |
| 2022 | 4,707 | 4,384 | 89.0% |
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
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 3,640 MOT tests of 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 6,505 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars first registered in 2003; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2003.
- 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.