Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz R-Class reliability and common faults
Based on 4,833 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
23.0%
fail rate · average 32.1%
much better than average
1,578 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
59.4%
with defects · average 64.7%
better than average
478 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
57.0%
first-time pass · average 52.1%
better than average
2,777 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Wheels
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Tyres
Lights and electrics
Suspension
Steering
Visibility
Plates and identification
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 12–15 years | 21.1% avg 30.3% | — |
| 16–20 years | 25.5% avg 34.6% | 59.4% avg 64.7% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | R-Class | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 61.5% | 63.7% | 96 |
| 2011 | 52.1% | 61.2% | 215 |
| 2010 | 59.4% | 57.3% | 101 |
| 2009 | 61.2% | 54.5% | 188 |
| 2008 | 57.8% | 52.4% | 389 |
| 2007 | 55.0% | 50.6% | 855 |
| 2006 | 58.2% | 48.7% | 896 |
Mercedes-Benz R-Class – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz R-Class?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz R-Class fails 23.0% of MOT tests, against an average of 32.1% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 59.4% of APK inspections (average there 64.7%) – better than average. In Lithuania 57.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 52.1%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: seat belts and airbags, wheels, brakes.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz R-Class?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Mercedes-Benz models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).