Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz C (2014)

29,117 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.9% first-time pass rate

2014 Mercedes Benz C

CarHunch analysed 29,117 real MOT records for the 2014 Mercedes Benz C. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page
AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C passes its MOT first time at 85.8%, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is a positive sign for reliability. However, 38.9% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and worth taking seriously when evaluating a used example. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 88.2% pass rate versus 85.3% for diesels, though both are solid.

At 66,400 miles median mileage, these ten-year-old cars show typical wear for their age, yet they're averaging 1.55 failures and 9.8 advisories per test, suggesting age-related maintenance is creeping in across suspension, brakes, and emissions systems. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the dangerous defect history—check the MOT records yourself on the DVLA website to see what's been flagged on that specific chassis number.

The 2014 Mercedes Benz C has a decent first-time pass rate (85.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
85.9%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
38.9%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
1.55
Over 9.8 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
66k
Middle half: 51k–85k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 85.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 29,117 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 29,117 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 50.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 28.5%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 14%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive
Suspension & steering 13.2%
Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 29,117 Mercedes Benz C cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

88.3%
Petrol
5,199 vehicles
85.3%
Diesel
23,907 vehicles

Before you buy a 2014 Mercedes Benz C

Based on MOT data from 29,117 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (82%) 23,907 85.3% 1.62
Petrol (18%) 5,199 88.3% 1.28

Colour Breakdown

Based on 667,977 Mercedes Benz C vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.7%
231,844
Black 24.7%
164,730
Blue 14.6%
97,214
White 9.6%
64,104
Grey 9.1%
60,907
Red 4.2%
28,290
Green 1.9%
12,661
Beige 0.4%
2,836
Purple 0.3%
1,844
Gold 0.2%
1,650
Brown 0.1%
994
Orange 0.1%
903

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 Mercedes Benz C vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

66,434
typical
51,113
low mileage
85,119
high mileage

Half of all 2014 Mercedes Benz C vehicles fall between 51,113 and 85,119 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 51,113 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
51,113–85,119 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2014 Mercedes Benz Cs sit.
Over 114,910 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2014 Mercedes Benz C — Still on the Road

Most 2014 Mercedes Benz Cs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 24,138 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

27,208 24,138 2017 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

9.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.55
Avg failures per vehicle
9.8
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mercedes Benz C: All C years → Which year to buy? →
1983 1984 1985 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Mercedes Benz logo

Compare with another model

See how the 2014 Mercedes Benz C stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing