Car statistics by year
2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz C-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.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 87.2% All 2021 cars 88.4%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 34,400 miles; all 2021 cars 30,700
- Left at the end of 2025 5,660 92.0% of the 6,155 at the end of 2021
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.2% All 2021 cars 3.8%
- Tests with an advisory 31.8% All 2021 cars 33.1%
- MOT tests in 2025 6,195 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 4 years old, 87.2% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 88.4% for all cars first registered in 2021. 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes did worse than average for their age, by 1.2 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 86.6% of the time (all 2021 cars 88.7%).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ’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 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm was the most common single reason a 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed, on 18.8% of about 800 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (61.6% of failed tests; all 2021 cars 41.9%). 7.2% 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.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 18.8% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 17.3% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 17.0% |
| Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 8.1% |
| Road wheels: fractured Road wheels | 7.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 5.9% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.7% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 5.2% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 4.4% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 3.3% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs all 2021 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 61.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.5% |
| Visibility | 10.3% |
| Road wheels | 8.7% |
| Suspension | 7.9% |
| Brakes | 5.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.6% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 2.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 31.8% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-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
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 17.4% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 4.3% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 2.5% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 2.2% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 2.0% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 1.5% |
| Flexible couplings: slightly deteriorated Body, chassis, structure | 1.5% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 1.2% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 1.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Half of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 34,400 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 24,500 and a quarter more than 47,600. For all cars first registered in 2021, the middle figure was 30,700 miles, so 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes have been driven 12.1% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 17,200 | 24,500 | 34,400 | 47,600 | 64,500 | 5,768 |
| All 2021 cars | 14,300 | 21,300 | 30,700 | 42,500 | 56,500 | 1,457,950 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes are left?
At the end of 2021, 6,155 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 5,660 were: 5,567 licensed and 93 declared off the road (SORN). That is 92.0% 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%.
| Year end | 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | All 2021 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2022 | 98.4% | 98.4% |
| 2023 | 96.8% | 97.6% |
| 2024 | 94.2% | 94.7% |
| 2025 | 92.0% | 96.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2021
40 of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s 153 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2021. 11 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.
15 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%).
| 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 | 6,195 MOT tests of 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 5,660 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 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.