Mercedes Benz Unknown (2011)

634 real MOT outcomes analysed • 4% first-time pass rate

2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown

CarHunch analysed 634 real MOT records for the 2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2011 Mercedes-Benz is a serious red flag: only 4% pass on first attempt versus the UK average of 80%, and the diesel variant (which makes up 95% of the sample) manages just 0.7% first-time passes. With fewer than 1 in 200 vehicles passing their MOT without defects, this cohort is among the worst-performing you'll encounter, and the dangerous defect rate of 0.5% suggests structural or safety concerns beyond routine wear.

The median mileage of 80,064 miles is reasonable for a 13-year-old car, but the average of 188,531 miles reveals a heavily-used subset dragging the cohort down—and these cars are still failing despite moderate use. With an average of 0.03 failures and 0.1 advisories per vehicle, the problem isn't minor niggles but systematic deterioration: avoid this model unless you have access to a trusted Mercedes specialist and budget significantly for corrective work before purchase.

Below average reliability 76% below UK average
4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
80,064
typical mileage
73,804–107,264 middle half
0.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.03
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Mercedes Benz Unknown

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (95%) 605 0.7% 0.01
Petrol (4%) 25 67.7% 0.36
Diesel (1%) 4 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

73,804
low mileage
80,064
typical
107,264
high mileage

Half of all 2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown vehicles fall between 73,804 and 107,264 miles.

2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 19 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

11 19 2023 2025

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

1.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.03
Avg failures per vehicle
0.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2011 Mercedes Benz Unknown

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 22.7%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 22.7%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 22.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 20.5%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 18.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 18.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 15.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 9.1%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mercedes Benz Unknown?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Unknown:

2008 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025