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Mercedes-benz S-CLASS - 2003

260.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 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 2003. Sample size: 703 cars, 1,367 tests and 3,561 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 703 cars

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows a significantly lower overall defect rate compared to the yearly average, with 261 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 31% better than the average of 378. This model particularly excels in categories such as Steering, Visibility, and Body/Structure, where it demonstrates a notably lower incidence of defects than the average car of the same year. In terms of mileage-related trends, defect rates tend to increase with mileage, but the S-Class maintains relatively favourable figures across all mileage segments compared to the average. Overall, this model showcases a strong performance in several key areas, indicating its reliability.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 703 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
▲ 2.0% better
165.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 52.0% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
Visibility
▲ 39.6% better
18.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
Lights & Electrics
▲ 34.6% better
67.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 34.3% better
198.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 66.6% better
21.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
Equipment
▲ 34.6% better
8.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
Other
▲ 46.1% better
28.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 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
0 538 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 376
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 358
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 326
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 255
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 158
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 122
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 103
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 86
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 81

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 86
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 18