Car statistics by year

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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

Last updated
Records analysed
656 MOT tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 92.2% All 2020 cars 86.9%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 53,000 miles; all 2020 cars 36,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 526 92.3% of the 570 at the end of 2020
  • Tests with an advisory 27.4% All 2020 cars 38.2%
  • MOT tests in 2025 656 normal tests in Great Britain

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

In 2025, at about 5 years old, 92.2% of 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 86.9% for all cars first registered in 2020. 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes did better than average for their age, by 5.3 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 91.1% of the time (all 2020 cars 88.0%).

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 advisories on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 27.4% of 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-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 S-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 13.7%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 3.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 3.7%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 3.4%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.9%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 2.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

Half of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 53,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 33,000 and a quarter more than 79,100. For all cars first registered in 2020, the middle figure was 36,000 miles, so 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes have been driven 47.2% 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 S-Class and all 2020 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 21,500 33,000 53,000 79,100 111,300 534
All 2020 cars 17,200 25,300 36,000 49,000 63,900 1,452,206
miles

Half of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 53,000 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

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

At the end of 2020, 570 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 526 were: 492 licensed and 34 declared off the road (SORN). That is 92.3% 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 S-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 S-ClassAll 2020 cars
2020 100.0%100.0%
2021 97.7%99.4%
2022 96.5%98.4%
2023 92.6%95.6%
2024 91.9%96.7%
2025 92.3%96.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2020

30 of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class’s 89 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2020. 7 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 S-Class recalls whose build dates include 2020
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
2 Oct 2023 A 12V ground connection bolt in the boot might not meet specifications 26 Aug 2020 to 22 Mar 2023 549
25 Aug 2023 On affected vehicles a bolt connection in the engine compartment main fuse box might not meet specifications and the torque of the bolt connection may not be sufficient. 6 Jul 2020 to 14 Oct 2022 330
4 Aug 2023 On affected vehicles the voltage converter software of the secondary on-board electrical system might not meet specifications. 15 Jul 2020 to 27 May 2021 165
4 Aug 2023 On affected vehicles the voltage converter software of the secondary on-board electrical system might not meet specifications. 6 Jul 2020 to 27 May 2021 363
28 Apr 2023 On affected vehicles the firewall seal may not satisfy leak tightness requirements. Water may enter into the vehicle causing corrosion on electrical contacts function of the PreSafe system may be impaired and it may not be possible to restart a parked vehicle. 6 Jul 2020 to 23 Sept 2020 7
16 May 2022 The software of the rear signal acquisition and actuation module might not meet specifications 20 Jun 2020 to 13 Jan 2022 605 (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)
29 Apr 2022 The air bag control unit might not have been bolted according to specifications 6 Jul 2020 to 13 Feb 2021 62
16 Feb 2022 The communication module might not meet specifications 20 Jun 2020 to 20 Jul 2021 221
16 Feb 2022 The configuration of the mbux system might not meet specifications 18 Dec 2020 to 10 Jan 2021 5 (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)
12 Jan 2022 The configuration of the mbux system might not meet specifications. 18 Dec 2020 to 22 Oct 2021 25 (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)
26 Nov 2021 The fuel level might not be displayed correctly 20 Jun 2020 to 22 Dec 2020 2
19 Nov 2021 The software of the air bag control unit might not meet specifications 20 Jun 2020 to 10 Mar 2021 441
20 Sept 2021 The communications module might not meet specifications 20 Jun 2020 to 2 Jul 2021 339
20 Sept 2021 The communication module might not meet specifications 20 Jun 2020 to 2 Jul 2021 275
20 Aug 2021 The bolting of the 48V wiring harness on a body sided support point might not meet specifications 16 Nov 2020 to 8 Feb 2021 7
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 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%).

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 656 MOT tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 526 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 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.