Car statistics by year
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-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.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 90.5% All 2018 cars 81.8%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 64,700 miles; all 2018 cars 50,000
- Left at the end of 2025 1,894 82.3% of the 2,300 at the end of 2018
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 3.8% All 2018 cars 5.8%
- Tests with an advisory 27.3% All 2018 cars 43.2%
- MOT tests in 2025 2,184 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 7 years old, 90.5% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 81.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes did better than average for their age, by 8.7 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 90.3% of the time (all 2018 cars 83.4%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz S-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 S-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’11 | 78.5% | 61.5% |
| ’12 | 80.3% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 81.8% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 87.7% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 86.9% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 85.7% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 87.2% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 90.5% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 90.5% | 84.4% |
| ’20 | 92.2% | 86.9% |
| ’21 | 89.6% | 88.4% |
| ’22 | 92.5% | 89.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed, on 17.8% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (43.3% of failed tests; all 2018 cars 30.9%). 3.8% 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.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 17.8% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 13.5% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.0% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 12.5% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 9.1% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 8.7% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 6.3% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 5.8% |
| Washers: not working Visibility | 5.3% |
| Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 4.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs all 2018 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 43.3% |
| Suspension | 21.6% |
| Visibility | 17.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 15.9% |
| Brakes | 11.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.3% |
| Road wheels | 4.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 27.3% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-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
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 14.2% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 4.5% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 4.5% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 3.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 2.9% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 1.9% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 1.1% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 0.9% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 0.8% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 64,700 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 42,100 and a quarter more than 101,200. For all cars first registered in 2018, the middle figure was 50,000 miles, so 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes have been driven 29.4% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 27,000 | 42,100 | 64,700 | 101,200 | 142,600 | 1,905 |
| All 2018 cars | 24,300 | 35,700 | 50,000 | 66,600 | 85,300 | 2,108,837 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes are left?
At the end of 2018, 2,300 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 1,894 were: 1,755 licensed and 139 declared off the road (SORN). That is 82.3% 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%.
| Year end | 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class | All 2018 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2019 | 91.2% | 99.9% |
| 2020 | 88.7% | 98.2% |
| 2021 | 90.2% | 95.9% |
| 2022 | 88.4% | 97.2% |
| 2023 | 86.5% | 97.0% |
| 2024 | 84.5% | 96.7% |
| 2025 | 82.3% | 96.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2018
28 of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class’s 89 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2018. 7 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.
3 more are on the full list. Every Mercedes-Benz S-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 S-Class
19 years of the Mercedes-Benz S-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 2006 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (77.8% passed first time) and the 2021 cars worst (89.6%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | – | 982 | 73.1% |
| 2004 | – | 846 | 76.3% |
| 2006 | – | 1,204 | 77.8% |
| 2007 | – | 1,450 | 75.7% |
| 2008 | – | 1,028 | 72.9% |
| 2009 | – | 900 | 72.1% |
| 2010 | – | 905 | 78.2% |
| 2011 | – | 970 | 78.5% |
| 2012 | – | 1,257 | 80.3% |
| 2013 | – | 1,050 | 81.8% |
| 2014 | 2,549 | 1,777 | 87.7% |
| 2015 | 2,752 | 2,144 | 86.9% |
| 2016 | 2,957 | 2,481 | 85.7% |
| 2017 | 2,576 | 2,128 | 87.2% |
| 2018 | 2,300 | 1,894 | 90.5% |
| 2019 | 2,045 | 1,816 | 90.5% |
| 2020 | 570 | 526 | 92.2% |
| 2021 | 839 | 669 | 89.6% |
| 2022 | 614 | 537 | 92.5% |
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 | 2,184 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 1,894 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz S-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.