Which year Mercedes-Benz Sl is most reliable?

Based on 33,152 vehicles (1980–2019) and millions of DVLA MOT records.

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Not just "newer is more reliable"

These rankings compare each year at the same mileage point — a 2003 Sl at 80,000 miles is judged against a 2014 Sl at 80,000 miles, not its full lifetime average. Verdicts are also relative to this model's own average, not a universal scale. That's the difference between "old cars wear out" and "this year is genuinely more or less reliable."

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Years to look for

2014–2019

Above-average pass rate — these years consistently do better than other Sls

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Below model average

1980–1986

Lower pass rate than other Sls — worth checking the MOT history before buying

See common failures for 1981 →

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Dataset

33,152

vehicles · 1980–2019 · millions of MOT records

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CarHunch sweet spot — 1996, 1998–2001, 2003–2016

These years hit the reliability-to-value sweet spot: a 83.3–91.6% pass rate, well above this model's median, but old enough to have depreciated significantly from peak price. If budget matters alongside reliability, start your search here.

Pass rate by year

Year	Pass rate	Vehicles
2019	94.4%	344	Recommended
2018	93.5%	407	Recommended
2017	93.4%	661	Recommended
2016	91.3%	790	Recommended
2015	91.6%	849	Recommended
2014	90.5%	1,151	Recommended
2013	88.5%	1,209
2012	88.6%	459
2011	88.2%	284
2010	86.5%	414
2009	86.9%	591
2008	87.1%	957
2007	86.9%	989
2006	86.1%	1,075
2005	85.6%	1,589
2004	85.6%	2,846
2003	84.4%	3,990
2002	83.1%	1,947
2001	85.3%	490
2000	84.5%	796
1999	84.0%	933
1998	83.3%	1,307
1997	82.6%	1,272
1996	83.3%	1,169
1995	81.6%	1,126
1994	80.8%	1,040
1993	80.5%	479
1992	79.9%	407
1991	81.9%	439
1990	79.3%	327
1989	81.8%	279
1988	81.2%	248
1987	79.5%	242
1986	78.0%	282	Below avg
1985	77.7%	390	Below avg
1984	77.7%	367	Below avg
1983	75.9%	340	Below avg
1982	74.0%	198	Below avg
1981	71.0%	223	Below avg
1980	72.9%	246	Below avg

Click any year to see full MOT history, common faults and comparisons for those cars. Verdicts are relative to this model's own average — a good Land Rover year is judged differently from a good Toyota year.

How each year holds up at higher mileage

Each line is a different model year. The mileage ranges are divided into 5 equal groups based on how this model is actually driven in the real world — so you're comparing like-for-like, not arbitrary round numbers.

Only years with enough data across at least 3 mileage ranges are shown. Newer years appear in blue; older years in amber.

How is this measured?

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What "pass rate" means

The percentage of all MOT tests that resulted in a pass — counted across a car's whole life, not just its first test. Higher means fewer failures over time.

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Mileage groups built from real data

We split this model's real-world mileage history into 5 equal groups — so each slice contains the same number of cars, not an arbitrary round number like "0–30,000 miles."

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Does age still matter?

Yes. A low-mileage 20-year-old car has still had 20 years of weather, perishing rubber, and ageing electrics. Comparing at the same mileage narrows the gap between old and new — but doesn't erase it entirely.

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Why this beats surveys

Our figures come from the DVLA's national MOT database — over 50 million real test results from accredited garages, with no opinions involved. Most reliability guides are based on owner surveys with a few hundred responses per model.

What next?

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