Car statistics by year
2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class cars first registered in 2002: 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 2002, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 80.4% All 2002 cars 59.7%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 74,000 miles; all 2002 cars 99,400
- Left at the end of 2025 1,115 83.6% of the 1,333 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.3% All 2002 cars 9.0%
- Tests with an advisory 48.0% All 2002 cars 68.6%
- MOT tests in 2025 912 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 23 years old, 80.4% of 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 59.7% for all cars first registered in 2002. 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes did better than average for their age, by 20.7 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 81.2% of the time (all 2002 cars 58.3%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz SL-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 SL-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’95 | 79.8% | 71.5% |
| ’96 | 78.9% | 70.0% |
| ’97 | 80.8% | 68.5% |
| ’98 | 78.8% | 67.1% |
| ’99 | 81.6% | 65.4% |
| ’02 | 80.4% | 59.7% |
| ’03 | 81.3% | 58.9% |
| ’04 | 82.9% | 57.9% |
| ’05 | 81.9% | 57.7% |
| ’06 | 82.1% | 56.9% |
| ’07 | 81.3% | 57.3% |
| ’08 | 84.1% | 57.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class failed, on 8.9% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, suspension failed most often (31.3% of failed tests; all 2002 cars 36.9%). 6.3% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.0% for all cars first registered in 2002. 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 | 8.9% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 7.3% |
| Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension | 6.1% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 6.1% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.6% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 5.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vs all 2002 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 31.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 28.5% |
| Brakes | 24.0% |
| Tyres | 22.9% |
| Visibility | 12.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 48.0% of 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class tests had at least one (all 2002 cars 68.6%). 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 | 10.3% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 9.4% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.3% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 6.4% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 6.0% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 5.3% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 4.4% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 3.9% |
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 3.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?
Half of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 74,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 54,500 and a quarter more than 94,000. For all cars first registered in 2002, the middle figure was 99,400 miles, so 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes have been driven 25.6% less far 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | 38,400 | 54,500 | 74,000 | 94,000 | 115,300 | 865 |
| All 2002 cars | 48,900 | 70,700 | 99,400 | 133,600 | 168,800 | 161,894 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes are left?
At the end of 2014, 1,333 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 1,115 were: 532 licensed and 583 declared off the road (SORN). That is 83.6% still on the record, against 20.9% for all cars first registered in 2002.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | All 2002 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 99.4% | 89.1% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | 77.6% |
| 2017 | 95.7% | 64.4% |
| 2018 | 95.7% | 52.9% |
| 2019 | 92.3% | 44.1% |
| 2020 | 91.7% | 37.9% |
| 2021 | 90.5% | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 89.0% | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 85.7% | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 83.1% | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 83.6% | 20.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2002
1 of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class’s 30 recalls in DVSA’s records covers cars built during 2002. 4 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2002 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2002 may have been built in 2001, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 2004 | Possibility of reduced braking efficiency | 1 Jun 2002 to 1 Jun 2003 | 39,742 (all models) |
Every Mercedes-Benz SL-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 SL-Class
17 years of the Mercedes-Benz SL-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 2008 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (84.1% passed first time) and the 1995 cars worst (79.8%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | – | 731 | 79.8% |
| 1996 | – | 773 | 78.9% |
| 1997 | – | 831 | 80.8% |
| 1998 | – | 744 | 78.8% |
| 1999 | – | 605 | 81.6% |
| 2002 | – | 1,115 | 80.4% |
| 2003 | – | 2,377 | 81.3% |
| 2004 | – | 1,989 | 82.9% |
| 2005 | – | 1,197 | 81.9% |
| 2006 | – | 852 | 82.1% |
| 2007 | – | 810 | 81.3% |
| 2008 | – | 799 | 84.1% |
| 2013 | – | 1,125 | 81.0% |
| 2014 | 1,193 | 1,044 | 85.5% |
| 2015 | 780 | 765 | 86.7% |
| 2016 | 709 | 674 | 89.2% |
| 2017 | 526 | 541 | 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 | 912 MOT tests of 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 1,115 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz SL-Class cars first registered in 2002; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2002.
- 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.