Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate: 75.5% (53,888 tests, 2025)

The Mercedes-Benz SLK passed 75.5% of its 53,888 MOT tests in 2025 — 2.0 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 16 years old with 68,586 miles on the clock.

75.5%Pass rate (2025)

53,888MOT tests analysed

68,586 miMedian mileage at test

16 yrsMedian age at test

How the SLK compares

Mercedes-Benz SLK

75.5%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Mercedes-Benz average (all models)

80.7%

What fails most on the Mercedes-Benz SLK

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the SLK:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	9,665	32.4%
2	Brakes	5,401	18.1%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	5,137	17.2%
4	Tyres	4,699	15.8%
5	Visibility	1,695	5.7%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	1,658	5.6%

Pre-MOT checklist for SLK owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

SLK pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2002. Full ranking and method: Mercedes-Benz SLK years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	6,218	76.8%	+10.1 pts	87,028
2002	5,528	77.7%	+11.9 pts	84,096
2003	5,058	73.6%	+8.5 pts	81,064
2004	8,890	70.1%	+5.7 pts	81,784
2005	13,925	71.2%	+6.7 pts	79,516
2006	10,788	71.6%	+7.2 pts	77,638
2007	10,293	71.2%	+6.1 pts	72,692
2008	9,411	71.4%	+6.3 pts	71,853
2009	7,333	72.2%	+5.8 pts	66,664
2010	6,106	73.6%	+6.2 pts	62,311
2011	7,403	78.6%	+9.4 pts	57,773
2012	16,341	77.3%	+6.1 pts	60,294
2013	13,440	77.6%	+4.3 pts	58,930
2014	14,281	80.7%	+4.8 pts	51,701
2015	14,302	83.2%	+4.5 pts	45,175
2016	3,688	85.4%	+4.1 pts	39,182

Check a specific SLK before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

C78.2% pass rate · 343,551 tests A-Class77.8% pass rate · 232,671 tests E79.7% pass rate · 215,896 tests A89.1% pass rate · 93,733 tests Vito73.4% pass rate · 81,263 tests GLC87.2% pass rate · 65,847 tests GLA83.1% pass rate · 64,404 tests CLA82.7% pass rate · 62,279 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2025, 75.5% of 53,888 first MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz SLK were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the SLK fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (32.4% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 75.5% it performs below the national average at a median age of 16 years and 68,586 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.