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Mercedes-benz SL - 2003

163.6 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 SL, model year 2003. Sample size: 2,939 cars, 6,475 tests and 10,596 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,939 cars

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL shows a significantly lower overall defect rate, with 164 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 378 defects for cars of the same year, indicating a 57% improvement. Mileage data reveals that as mileage increases, the defect rate for this model also rises but remains lower than the average across all mileage brackets. Notably, the SL excels in several categories, particularly in brakes, steering, and visibility, with defects in these areas far fewer than the average rates. Overall, this model stands out for its reliability compared to its peers from the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,939 cars

More model years for Mercedes-benz SL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 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

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
▲ 40.1% better
101.4 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
▲ 64.7% better
8.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
Visibility
▲ 59.1% better
12.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
Lights & Electrics
▲ 77.0% better
23.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 48.8% better
154.8 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 shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
Body/Structure
▲ 90.5% better
6.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
Equipment
▲ 64.0% better
4.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
Other
▲ 71.0% better
15.3 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: 1,154
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,143
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 978
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 803
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 698
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 376
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 328
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 323
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 308
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 299

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 173
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 173
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 81
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 77
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 76
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 62
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 50