Car statistics by year

2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars first registered in 2016: 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 2016, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. “2016” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
19,987 MOT tests of 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 81.0% All 2016 cars 75.6%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 80,500 miles; all 2016 cars 65,300
  • Left at the end of 2025 19,786 82.2% of the 24,081 at the end of 2016
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.6% All 2016 cars 6.7%
  • Tests with an advisory 40.6% All 2016 cars 48.6%
  • MOT tests in 2025 19,987 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 9 years old, 81.0% of 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 75.6% for all cars first registered in 2016. 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes did better than average for their age, by 5.4 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 82.2% of the time (all 2016 cars 77.5%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz E-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 E-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz E-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz E-ClassAll cars
’10 69.0%59.3%
’11 69.6%61.5%
’12 68.9%63.6%
’13 70.9%66.0%
’14 75.2%69.1%
’15 77.8%72.6%
’16 81.0%75.6%
’17 83.0%79.1%
’18 83.8%81.8%
’19 85.6%84.4%
’20 86.3%86.9%
’21 87.8%88.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction was the most common single reason a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed, on 14.9% of about 3,800 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (44.5% of failed tests; all 2016 cars 27.6%). 7.6% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 6.7% for all cars first registered in 2016. 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 14.9%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 11.4%
Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative Tyres 10.0%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 9.3%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 8.1%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 7.5%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 7.4%
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 5.6%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 5.0%
Road wheels: fractured Road wheels 4.1%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs all 2016 cars

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

Share of failed 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2016 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 44.5%
Suspension 25.6%
Brakes 18.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks 16.1%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 11.8%
Road wheels 6.4%
Visibility 6.2%
Body, chassis, structure 2.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 40.6% of 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests had at least one (all 2016 cars 48.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 18.1%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 6.9%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 6.6%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 4.6%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 3.6%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 3.1%
Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension 2.6%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.6%
Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension 1.8%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 1.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Half of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 80,500 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 58,400 and a quarter more than 110,900. For all cars first registered in 2016, the middle figure was 65,300 miles, so 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes have been driven 23.3% 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%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and all 2016 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 42,300 58,400 80,500 110,900 157,200 18,587
All 2016 cars 32,200 47,000 65,300 86,000 108,800 2,323,151
miles

Half of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 80,500 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes are left?

At the end of 2016, 24,081 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 19,786 were: 18,919 licensed and 867 declared off the road (SORN). That is 82.2% still on the record, against 94.1% for all cars first registered in 2016.

Share still on the record since 2016

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2016. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2016, compared with all 2016 cars
Year end 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-ClassAll 2016 cars
2016 100.0%100.0%
2017 94.3%100.0%
2018 90.7%99.0%
2019 86.2%96.5%
2020 86.8%96.5%
2021 86.5%96.6%
2022 85.8%96.4%
2023 85.1%95.6%
2024 83.5%95.0%
2025 82.2%94.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2016

47 of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s 139 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2016. 8 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2016 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2016 may have been built in 2015, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class recalls whose build dates include 2016
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
20 Feb 2023 On affected vehicles the aluminium bolts of the steering gear could corrode and break due to the intrusion of moisture. 6 Apr 2011 to 30 May 2016 and 1 Aug 2016 to 19 Sept 2016 51,251 (all models)
23 May 2022 Individual bolts or chain links of the camshaft timing chain might wear 18 Feb 2016 to 10 Oct 2018 714 (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 7 (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)
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)
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 communication module may be deactivated 3 May 2016 to 2 Jul 2020 24 (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 Sept 2020 Electro-chemical processes may create conductive connections inside the electric busbar 16 Mar 2016 to 4 Oct 2018 11
18 Oct 2019 The spoiler on the rear door may have been mounted incorrectly 29 Sept 2016 to 17 Jan 2019 11,130
17 Oct 2019 Software update required to improve emissions 1 Feb 2013 to 30 Nov 2017 7,681 (all models)
6 Sept 2019 To achieve an improvement in the emissions via software updates 1 Jun 2012 to 30 Nov 2017 25,647 (all models)
17 Apr 2019 A reset in the CPC control unit could occur whilst driving 1 May 2016 to 31 Aug 2018 69 (all models)
5 Apr 2019 The air conditioner housing may possibly not have been installed according to specification 1 Nov 2015 to 30 Nov 2016 5,159
1 Apr 2019 A lock nut may be cracked in the steering gear 1 Mar 2015 to 31 Oct 2018 24 (all models)

22 more are on the full list. Every Mercedes-Benz E-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 E-Class

24 years of the Mercedes-Benz E-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 2007 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (71.0% passed first time) and the 2022 cars worst (88.3%).

Mercedes-Benz E-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
1994 1,518 77.2% 73.1%
1995 1,654 72.5% 71.5%
2001 1,857 66.0% 61.5%
2002 2,059 67.1% 59.7%
2003 4,389 68.2% 58.9%
2004 5,200 68.4% 57.9%
2005 4,871 66.2% 57.7%
2006 4,135 68.8% 56.9%
2007 5,936 71.0% 57.3%
2008 4,553 69.9% 57.0%
2009 7,012 70.0% 58.2%
2010 11,747 69.0% 59.3%
2011 13,739 69.6% 61.5%
2012 15,024 68.9% 63.6%
2013 19,471 70.9% 66.0%
2014 27,161 20,451 75.2% 69.1%
2015 24,338 20,676 77.8% 72.6%
2016 24,081 19,786 81.0% 75.6%
2017 23,545 20,463 83.0% 79.1%
2018 21,558 18,938 83.8% 81.8%
2019 19,273 17,783 85.6% 84.4%
2020 9,820 9,030 86.3% 86.9%
2021 6,450 5,658 87.8% 88.4%
2022 3,262 2,951 88.3% 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 19,987 MOT tests of 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 19,786 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars first registered in 2016; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2016.
  • 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.