Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc?

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 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc?

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 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc?

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.

How many 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,307 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (31.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (19.7% 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 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc?

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.

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Mercedes Benz Slc (2016)

2,307 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.2% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz Slc

CarHunch analysed 2,307 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC passes its MOT first time at 89.2%, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is encouraging—but a serious red flag emerges when you look deeper: 32.1% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold where buyers should ask harder questions. Petrol versions perform slightly better at a 90.5% pass rate compared to 87.8% for diesel, suggesting the petrol engine is the more forgiving choice if you're choosing between the two.

At nearly 32,000 miles on average, these cars are being driven reasonably hard for their age, yet they're still averaging almost six advisories per vehicle and bumping up against one actual failure—a sign that the SLC's complexity demands diligent maintenance to stay reliable. Before buying one, check the full service history meticulously and budget for preventative work on suspension and electronics; this is not a car to skimp on servicing.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc has a decent first-time pass rate (89.2%), 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

89.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

32.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.94

Over 7.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 18k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.2% 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 5.7 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 2,307 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 2,307 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 31.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 15.2%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Suspension & steering 10%

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 6.5%

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,307 Mercedes Benz Slc cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

90.5%

Petrol

1,167 vehicles

87.8%

Diesel

1,140 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc

Based on MOT data from 2,307 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.1% 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
Petrol (51%)	1,167	90.5%	0.82
Diesel (49%)	1,140	87.8%	1.06

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,456 Mercedes Benz Slc vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.4%

2,658

White 20.7%

1,753

Grey 16.8%

1,419

Blue 13.6%

1,147

Silver 11.4%

961

Red 6%

511

Yellow 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc 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.

25,757

typical

17,670

low mileage

35,896

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc vehicles fall between 17,670 and 35,896 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,670 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.

✓ 17,670–35,896 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz Slcs sit.

⚠ Over 48,459 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz Slc — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz Slcs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,179 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

7.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.94

Avg failures per vehicle

5.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz Slc stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing