2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate: 77.7% (5,528 tests)

2002-registered Mercedes-Benz SLKs passed 77.7% of 5,528 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 11.9 points better than all UK cars registered in 2002 (65.7%). This is one of the strongest SLK years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

77.7%Pass rate, 2002 cars

111.9Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

5,528Tests analysed

84,096 miMedian mileage at test

77.6% / 100.0%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2002 SLK getting worse?

Pass rate of 2002-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	78.5% +13.4 vs same-age
2024	76.9% +11.5 vs same-age
2025	77.4% +10.6 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2002 SLK

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,227	32.9%
2	Brakes	787	21.1%
3	Suspension	433	11.6%
4	Tyres	350	9.4%
5	Visibility	346	9.3%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	221	5.9%

All SLK years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	6,218	76.8%	+10.1 pts	87,028
2002 (this page)	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

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mercedes-Benz SLK years to avoid.

Buying a 2002 SLK? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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

FAQs

Is a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable?

2002-registered examples passed 77.7% of their MOT tests (5,528 tests, 2023–2025), +11.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 24 years old with a median 84,096 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2002 SLK?

The median tested example shows 84,096 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.