Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Mercedes Benz E?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Mercedes Benz E?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Mercedes Benz E?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Mercedes Benz E reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,866 vehicles, the 2021 Mercedes Benz E has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Mercedes Benz E?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Mercedes Benz E are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Mercedes Benz E?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mercedes Benz E (2021)

1,866 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.6% first-time pass rate

2021 Mercedes Benz E

CarHunch analysed 1,866 real MOT records for the 2021 Mercedes Benz E. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E is a genuinely reliable proposition, with a 91.5% first-time pass rate that comfortably beats the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 17.2% of the fleet. Petrol variants perform best at 93.9% pass rate, though the electric diesel hybrid option (93.0%) is nearly as solid, while standard diesel lags slightly at 90.8%.

These cars are running light mileage for their age—a median of just 29,905 miles suggests mostly cherished examples—and when they do fail, it's minor: only 0.3 failures per vehicle on average, offset by routine advisories (1.5 per car). Before you buy, request the full MOT history and specifically check for any flagged suspension or brake work, as these are where luxury saloons of this generation tend to show age first.

The 2021 Mercedes Benz E passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

91.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

17.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.3

Over 2.8 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 21k–43k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.6% 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 1.5 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 1,866 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,866 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 24.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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 13.4%

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 5.1%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Suspension & steering 4.5%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint 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 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,866 Mercedes Benz E cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Mercedes Benz E

Based on MOT data from 1,866 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.2% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (55%)	1,025	90.8%	0.32
Electric Diesel (21%)	393	93%	0.29
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (12%)	232	90.1%	0.35
Petrol (11%)	213	94.4%	0.19

Colour Breakdown

Based on 425,623 Mercedes Benz E vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.4%

146,376

Black 24.2%

102,943

Blue 13.2%

56,174

Grey 11.7%

49,991

White 8.9%

38,055

Red 3.4%

14,354

Green 2.5%

10,833

Purple 0.6%

2,342

Beige 0.4%

1,522

Gold 0.4%

1,490

Brown 0.3%

1,309

Cream 0.1%

234

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Mercedes Benz E 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.

29,905

typical

21,402

low mileage

43,291

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Mercedes Benz E vehicles fall between 21,402 and 43,291 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,402 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.

✓ 21,402–43,291 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Mercedes Benz Es sit.

⚠ Over 58,442 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Mercedes Benz E — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Mercedes Benz Es are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,791 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.3

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz E: All E years → Which year to buy? →

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 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 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Mercedes Benz E stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?