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Mercedes-benz S-CLASS - 1998

250.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mercedes-benz S-CLASS, model year 1998. Sample size: 197 cars, 375 tests and 938 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 197 cars

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a lower overall defect rate of 250 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 26% better than the average for its year at 339 defects per 100. The model performs particularly well in categories such as Brakes, Lights & Electrics, and Body/Structure, showing significantly fewer defects compared to the average. However, it faces a higher rate of issues related to Visibility, which is 32% for this model compared to 26% for the average. Mileage trends indicate that defects increase with higher mileage, especially in the 62,000-93,000-mile range, although the S-Class still maintains a better overall performance than typical vehicles of the same age.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 197 cars

More model years for Mercedes-benz S-CLASS

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

Other models from Mercedes-benz

Mercedes-benz 190 E Mercedes-benz 300 Mercedes-benz A Mercedes-benz A 180 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz A 180 SPORT Mercedes-benz A 200 Mercedes-benz A 250 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz A-CLASS Mercedes-benz B Mercedes-benz B-CLASS Mercedes-benz C Mercedes-benz CITAN Mercedes-benz CL Mercedes-benz CL 500 Mercedes-benz CLA Mercedes-benz CLC Mercedes-benz CLK Mercedes-benz CLS Mercedes-benz E Mercedes-benz E 220 AMG Mercedes-benz EQA 250 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz EQC 400 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz ESPRINTER Mercedes-benz EVITO Mercedes-benz G Mercedes-benz G-CLASS Mercedes-benz GL Mercedes-benz GLA Mercedes-benz GLA 180 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLA 200 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLA 250 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLA 250 EXCLUSIVE Mercedes-benz GLB 200 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLB 220 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLC Mercedes-benz GLC 300 AMG Mercedes-benz GLC 300 AMG LINE Mercedes-benz GLE Mercedes-benz GLS Mercedes-benz GT Mercedes-benz ML Mercedes-benz R-Class Mercedes-benz S-Class Mercedes-benz SL Mercedes-benz SLC Mercedes-benz SLK Mercedes-benz SPRINTER Mercedes-benz V Mercedes-benz VIANO Mercedes-benz VITO Mercedes-benz X

Categories

Brakes
▲ 26.8% better
109.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
Steering
▲ 12.5% better
22.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
Visibility
▼ 23.6% worse
32.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
Lights & Electrics
▲ 23.2% better
51.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 20.1% better
205.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 76.1% better
19.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
Equipment
▲ 60.8% better
8.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
Other
▲ 13.2% better
51.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 543 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 82
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 81
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 66
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 61
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 33
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 32
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 27
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 20

Serious faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 5