What year Mercedes-Benz Sl is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sl has the highest pass rate at 94.4%, out of 344 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT failures?

The most common Mercedes-Benz Sl MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Mercedes-Benz Sl — Reliability by Year

33,152 vehicles · MOT data 1980–2019 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Mercedes-Benz Sl was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2019

94.4% pass rate · 344 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1981

71.0% pass rate · 223 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2019	94.4%	15,746 mi	344
2018	93.5%	18,984 mi	407
2017	93.4%	22,472 mi	661
2016	91.4%	25,799 mi	790
2015	91.6%	29,047 mi	849
2014	90.5%	32,282 mi	1,151
2013	88.5%	33,817 mi	1,209
2012	88.6%	33,414 mi	459
2011	88.2%	35,154 mi	284
2010	86.5%	40,095 mi	414
2009	86.9%	42,586 mi	591
2008	87.1%	43,265 mi	957
2007	86.9%	48,010 mi	989
2006	86.1%	51,186 mi	1,075
2005	85.6%	53,486 mi	1,589
2004	85.6%	54,283 mi	2,846
2003	84.4%	54,840 mi	3,990
2002	83.1%	56,078 mi	1,947
2001	85.3%	55,627 mi	490
2000	84.5%	66,114 mi	796
1999	84.0%	67,957 mi	933
1998	83.4%	74,467 mi	1,307
1997	82.7%	79,779 mi	1,272
1996	83.3%	83,288 mi	1,169
1995	81.6%	87,974 mi	1,126
1994	80.8%	89,605 mi	1,040
1993	80.7%	86,429 mi	479
1992	79.9%	89,008 mi	407
1991	81.9%	86,646 mi	439
1990	79.3%	89,446 mi	327
1989	81.8%	76,840 mi	279
1988	81.2%	76,447 mi	248
1987	79.8%	83,740 mi	242
1986	78.3%	92,698 mi	282
1985	77.9%	94,209 mi	390
1984	77.7%	94,788 mi	367
1983	75.9%	94,376 mi	340
1982	74.0%	95,475 mi	198
1981	71.0%	94,379 mi	223
1980	72.9%	91,444 mi	246

Which year Mercedes-Benz Sl is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 15,746 miles (newest year) to 95,475 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Mercedes-Benz Sl.

See the buying guide →

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