Car statistics by year

2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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

Last updated
Records analysed
28,371 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 83.9% All 2018 cars 81.8%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 55,100 miles; all 2018 cars 50,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 26,082 92.2% of the 28,299 at the end of 2018
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.0% All 2018 cars 5.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 39.6% All 2018 cars 43.2%
  • MOT tests in 2025 28,371 normal tests in Great Britain

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

In 2025, at about 7 years old, 83.9% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 81.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes did better than average for their age, by 2.1 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 84.8% of the time (all 2018 cars 83.4%).

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.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz C-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz C-ClassAll cars
’11 67.5%61.5%
’12 67.4%63.6%
’13 69.8%66.0%
’14 75.2%69.1%
’15 78.0%72.6%
’16 80.4%75.6%
’17 81.6%79.1%
’18 83.9%81.8%
’19 85.6%84.4%
’20 85.8%86.9%
’21 87.2%88.4%
’22 89.0%89.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm was the most common single reason a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed, on 18.4% of about 4,600 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (45.2% of failed tests; all 2018 cars 30.9%). 7.0% 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 C-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 18.4%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 12.4%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 11.2%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 10.6%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 9.4%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 9.1%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 5.9%
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 4.6%
Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 4.4%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 4.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

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

Share of failed 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2018 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 45.2%
Suspension 23.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks 13.2%
Brakes 10.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.4%
Visibility 9.8%
Road wheels 5.1%
Body, chassis, structure 2.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 39.6% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-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 C-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 20.4%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 7.7%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 5.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 4.5%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 3.9%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 3.3%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.0%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories 1.6%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.6%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 1.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 55,100 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 40,600 and a quarter more than 72,800. For all cars first registered in 2018, the middle figure was 50,000 miles, so 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes have been driven 10.2% 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%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and all 2018 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 29,200 40,600 55,100 72,800 93,500 26,955
All 2018 cars 24,300 35,700 50,000 66,600 85,300 2,108,837
miles

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 55,100 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

At the end of 2018, 28,299 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 26,082 were: 25,309 licensed and 773 declared off the road (SORN). That is 92.2% 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 C-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 C-ClassAll 2018 cars
2018 100.0%100.0%
2019 97.3%99.9%
2020 96.5%98.2%
2021 93.6%95.9%
2022 93.7%97.2%
2023 92.8%97.0%
2024 92.6%96.7%
2025 92.2%96.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2018

47 of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s 153 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2018. 11 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 C-Class recalls whose build dates include 2018
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
24 Mar 2022 A particle in the fuel rail might lead to a leak between the fuel rail and the injector 17 Jul 2018 to 12 Sept 2019 26 (all models)
22 Mar 2022 On certain vehicles the routing of an electric cable in the engine compartment might not meet specifications 8 Dec 2017 to 25 Jul 2019 6,322
21 Jan 2022 Coolant pump might have a leakage between the vacuum system and the coolant circuit 4 Apr 2017 to 12 Oct 2021 35,624 (all models)
1 Dec 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 21 (all models)
1 Dec 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 6 (all models)
1 Dec 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 23 (all models)
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)
20 Aug 2021 Vehicles with a panoramic sunroofthe polycarbonate panel may not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair 30 Jul 2013 to 29 Oct 2019 61 (all models)
27 Jul 2021 Diodes on the rectifier bridge of the alternator might fail 20 Mar 2014 to 28 Feb 2018 18,050
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)
7 May 2021 The connection of the gas lines of the inertisation system might not meet specifications 12 Apr 2016 to 3 Nov 2020 29,137 (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)
5 May 2021 The emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 6 (all models)
30 Mar 2021 The software of certain communication modules may not meet specifications 3 Feb 2017 to 11 Mar 2020 36 (all models)
30 Mar 2021 The communication module may be deactivated 3 May 2016 to 2 Jul 2020 24 (all models)
2 Dec 2020 The high voltage wiring harness shield may not permanently withstand the electrical loads that are induced under certain driving profiles 15 Jan 2018 to 29 Feb 2020 2,377 (all models)
13 Nov 2020 The headlight adjustment may not meet the specification 14 Jun 2018 to 7 Mar 2019 160
9 Oct 2020 The software of the ESP control unit may not meet the specifications 25 Apr 2018 to 7 Oct 2019 1,061 (all models)
6 Oct 2020 Engine control unit software to be updated 8 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2018 994 (all models)
6 Oct 2020 The seat belt warning function does not meet the specification 16 Mar 2016 to 27 Feb 2019 45 (all models)

22 more are on the full list. 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%).

Mercedes-Benz C-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
1997 1,845 68.1% 68.5%
1998 2,285 71.3% 67.1%
1999 1,915 68.4% 65.4%
2000 1,663 67.4% 63.1%
2001 3,195 63.2% 61.5%
2002 4,949 63.8% 59.7%
2003 6,505 58.9% 58.9%
2004 7,599 58.3% 57.9%
2005 9,182 59.7% 57.7%
2006 9,911 58.9% 56.9%
2007 12,227 61.6% 57.3%
2008 13,509 63.7% 57.0%
2009 12,664 64.4% 58.2%
2010 13,174 66.0% 59.3%
2011 19,726 67.5% 61.5%
2012 27,111 67.4% 63.6%
2013 24,348 69.8% 66.0%
2014 30,378 25,966 75.2% 69.1%
2015 38,782 34,165 78.0% 72.6%
2016 40,101 35,037 80.4% 75.6%
2017 39,798 36,933 81.6% 79.1%
2018 28,299 26,082 83.9% 81.8%
2019 23,131 22,545 85.6% 84.4%
2020 9,649 9,241 85.8% 86.9%
2021 6,155 5,660 87.2% 88.4%
2022 4,707 4,384 89.0% 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 28,371 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 26,082 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 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.