Car statistics by year

2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars first registered in 2019: 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 2019, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. “2019” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
2,306 MOT tests of 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 90.5% All 2019 cars 84.4%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 62,500 miles; all 2019 cars 42,400
  • Left at the end of 2025 1,816 88.8% of the 2,045 at the end of 2019
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 3.8% All 2019 cars 5.4%
  • Tests with an advisory 26.0% All 2019 cars 41.0%
  • MOT tests in 2025 2,306 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 6 years old, 90.5% of 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 84.4% for all cars first registered in 2019. 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes did better than average for their age, by 6.1 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 91.3% of the time (all 2019 cars 85.7%).

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.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz S-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz S-ClassAll 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 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed, on 18.3% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (44.3% of failed tests; all 2019 cars 33.9%). 3.8% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 5.4% for all cars first registered in 2019. 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 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 18.3%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 16.9%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 12.8%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 11.9%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 9.6%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 5.9%
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 5.5%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 4.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs all 2019 cars

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

Share of failed 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2019 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 44.3%
Suspension 21.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks 12.3%
Visibility 12.3%
Brakes 9.6%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 9.1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 7.3%
Road wheels 5.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 26.0% of 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests had at least one (all 2019 cars 41.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 13.9%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 5.2%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 4.0%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 3.2%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 3.0%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 1.7%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 1.7%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.2%
Road wheels: slightly distorted Road wheels 0.7%
Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres 0.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Half of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 62,500 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 39,300 and a quarter more than 99,800. For all cars first registered in 2019, the middle figure was 42,400 miles, so 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes have been driven 47.4% 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%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and all 2019 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 24,400 39,300 62,500 99,800 135,400 1,824
All 2019 cars 20,300 30,000 42,400 57,100 74,200 2,073,624
miles

Half of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 62,500 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes are left?

At the end of 2019, 2,045 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 1,816 were: 1,711 licensed and 105 declared off the road (SORN). That is 88.8% still on the record, against 97.3% for all cars first registered in 2019.

Share still on the record since 2019

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2019. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2019, compared with all 2019 cars
Year end 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-ClassAll 2019 cars
2019 100.0%100.0%
2020 92.1%99.1%
2021 94.3%98.5%
2022 93.1%97.2%
2023 90.6%97.5%
2024 91.3%97.5%
2025 88.8%97.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2019

16 of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class’s 89 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2019. 7 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2019 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2019 may have been built in 2018, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class recalls whose build dates include 2019
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
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 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)
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 behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 7 (all models)
30 Mar 2021 The communication module may be deactivated 3 May 2016 to 2 Jul 2020 24 (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)
25 Aug 2020 The data documenting the correct mounting of the turbocharger oil feed as well as the oil return line may be missing 7 Jun 2018 to 13 Mar 2020 124 (all models)
18 Sept 2019 The software of the radar control unit may not meet specification 1 Feb 2017 to 31 Jul 2019 294 (all models)

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%).

Mercedes-Benz S-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2003 982 73.1% 58.9%
2004 846 76.3% 57.9%
2006 1,204 77.8% 56.9%
2007 1,450 75.7% 57.3%
2008 1,028 72.9% 57.0%
2009 900 72.1% 58.2%
2010 905 78.2% 59.3%
2011 970 78.5% 61.5%
2012 1,257 80.3% 63.6%
2013 1,050 81.8% 66.0%
2014 2,549 1,777 87.7% 69.1%
2015 2,752 2,144 86.9% 72.6%
2016 2,957 2,481 85.7% 75.6%
2017 2,576 2,128 87.2% 79.1%
2018 2,300 1,894 90.5% 81.8%
2019 2,045 1,816 90.5% 84.4%
2020 570 526 92.2% 86.9%
2021 839 669 89.6% 88.4%
2022 614 537 92.5% 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 2,306 MOT tests of 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 1,816 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 2019; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2019.
  • 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.