Car statistics by year

2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars first registered in 2020: 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 2020, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. “2020” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
10,427 MOT tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 86.3% All 2020 cars 86.9%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 44,400 miles; all 2020 cars 36,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 9,030 92.0% of the 9,820 at the end of 2020
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 8.7% All 2020 cars 4.7%
  • Tests with an advisory 29.6% All 2020 cars 38.2%
  • MOT tests in 2025 10,427 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 5 years old, 86.3% of 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 86.9% for all cars first registered in 2020. 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes did about as well as average for their age. A year earlier the same cars passed 85.9% of the time (all 2020 cars 88.0%).

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
’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%
’22 88.3%89.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Tyres: ply or cords exposed was the most common single reason a 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed, on 19.4% of about 1,400 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (60.5% of failed tests; all 2020 cars 39.8%). 8.7% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 4.7% for all cars first registered in 2020. 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 19.4%
Road wheels: fractured Road wheels 19.2%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 16.2%
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 11.5%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 10.9%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 9.8%
Tyres: tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 4.0%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 3.2%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 2.7%
Tyres: lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 2.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs all 2020 cars

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

Share of failed 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2020 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 60.5%
Road wheels 21.3%
Suspension 11.7%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 7.3%
Brakes 5.8%
Visibility 5.4%
Identification of the vehicle 2.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks 1.9%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 29.6% of 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests had at least one (all 2020 cars 38.2%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 13.7%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 5.7%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 4.5%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 2.5%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 2.4%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.3%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 2.2%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.5%
Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres 1.0%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories 0.8%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Half of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 44,400 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 31,500 and a quarter more than 63,900. For all cars first registered in 2020, the middle figure was 36,000 miles, so 2020 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, 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and all 2020 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 22,300 31,500 44,400 63,900 93,800 8,987
All 2020 cars 17,200 25,300 36,000 49,000 63,900 1,452,206
miles

Half of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 44,400 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes are left?

At the end of 2020, 9,820 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 9,030 were: 8,643 licensed and 387 declared off the road (SORN). That is 92.0% still on the record, against 96.9% for all cars first registered in 2020.

Share still on the record since 2020

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2020. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2020, compared with all 2020 cars
Year end 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-ClassAll 2020 cars
2020 100.0%100.0%
2021 98.4%99.4%
2022 96.5%98.4%
2023 94.4%95.6%
2024 92.7%96.7%
2025 92.0%96.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2020

35 of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s 139 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2020. 8 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2020 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2020 may have been built in 2019, 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 2020
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
24 Oct 2024 SRPC2412 - Tightness of Transmission Wiring Harness Connector 13 Feb 2018 to 6 Apr 2022 271
24 Oct 2024 SRPC2409 - Tightness of Transmission Wiring Harness Connector 31 Jan 2018 to 6 Apr 2022 1,699
14 Aug 2023 On affected vehicles the manufacturing of the wiring harness to the power electronics might not meet specifications. 7 Oct 2020 to 25 Jan 2022 1,726
10 Nov 2022 The attachment for the 12V battery in the luggage compartment may not withstand the loads in the event of an accident 7 Mar 2018 to 23 Aug 2022 3,645 (all models)
14 Sept 2022 The transmission wiring harness might not be routed according to specifications 31 Jan 2018 to 25 Mar 2022 2,456 (all models)
16 Aug 2022 The routing of the transmission wiring harness might not meet specifications 19 Mar 2020 to 29 Apr 2020 1,482 (all models)
16 May 2022 The hands-off detection might not detect when the driver's hands are away from the steering wheel 28 Feb 2020 to 25 Jan 2022 423 (all models)
13 May 2022 The software of the headlamps might not meet specifications. 21 Feb 2020 to 18 Dec 2020 3
2 Mar 2022 The locking mechanism for the electrical connector of the left acceleration crash sensor at the bending beam might not meet specifications 28 Sept 2020 2
10 Feb 2022 The software of the engine control unit might not meet specifications 23 Jun 2020 to 11 Oct 2021 51 (all models)
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)
13 Jan 2022 The crankshaft might not meet specifications 10 Aug 2020 to 9 Dec 2020 23 (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)
23 Sept 2021 The belt tensioner arm may have been manufactured with borderline tolerance 9 Jan 2019 to 17 Mar 2021 427 (all models)
9 Sept 2021 The locking mechanism for the electrical connector of the side crash sensors might not meet specifications 4 Aug 2020 to 3 Sept 2020 129 (all models)
2 Jun 2021 The software and hardware of the parking control unit might not meet specifications 28 Jan 2020 to 6 Jul 2020 8
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)

10 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 10,427 MOT tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 9,030 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 2020; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2020.
  • 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.