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Mercedes-benz SLK - 1997

323.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mercedes-benz SLK, model year 1997. Sample size: 745 cars, 1,553 tests and 5,017 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 745 cars

The 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK has an overall defect rate of 323 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average for its year at 335 per 100, showing a 3% improvement. Notably, the SLK excels in the body and structure category, with a defect rate of 25%, significantly lower than the average of 79%. However, it experiences more issues with lights and electrics, recording a defect rate of 113%, which is considerably higher than the average of 67%. The defect rates increase with mileage, particularly in the highest mileage category, indicating that older models may face more significant challenges as they age.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 745 cars

More model years for Mercedes-benz SLK

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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
▲ 2.1% better
138.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 12.4% better
24.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
Visibility
▼ 0.8% worse
25.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
Lights & Electrics
▼ 72.7% worse
113.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 3.7% worse
260.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 70.3% better
24.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
Equipment
▲ 53.4% better
10.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
Other
▲ 17.2% better
50.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 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
0 554 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)

A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 408
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 374
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 318
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 317
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 311
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 301
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 190
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 173
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 172
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 118

Serious faults (Top 10)

Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 59
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 49
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 48
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 48
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 32
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 29