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Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls

22,820 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 83.9% of initial MOT tests, 11.6 points above the 72.3% UK average.

Looking at a specific S-Class? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class at the MOT

83.9% of 26,391 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the S-Class 140th of 575 models. Mercedes-Benz S-Classes aged 3 to 5 years passed 91.2% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 77.3%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class83.9%
  • All Mercedes-Benz modelsThe S-Class is 6.8 pts ahead77.1%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests in 2025.

  • 3 to 5 years2,867 tests91.2%
  • 6 to 10 years11,057 tests87.8%
  • 11 years and over11,352 tests77.3%

Where S-Classes fail

Share of all failure items recorded on Mercedes-Benz S-Class tests in 2025.

  • Suspension19.8%
  • Tyres19.4%
  • Brakes19%
  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment14.5%
  • Noise, emissions and leaks8.2%

The items testers recorded most often were ball joint excessively worn (9.7%), tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6.7%) and malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction (4.6%).

The MOT page lists every common S-Class MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.

Full Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

The S-Class's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.

  1. Suspension

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.19.8% of S-Class failure items

  2. Tyres

    Check tread depth across the full width of every tyre (the legal minimum is 1.6mm), and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.19.4% of S-Class failure items

  3. Brakes

    Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.19% of S-Class failure items

Mercedes-Benz S-Classes in the UK

22,820 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has fallen 20% since the end of 2014, and 26% from its peak of 30,889 at the end of 2017.

Change since 2014
−20%from 28,523 licensed
Typical year of first use
2015half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2015 or earlier
First registered in 2025
726against 3,359 in 2016
Declared off the road
9,11629% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Mercedes-Benz S-Classes since 2014

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 201428,523
End of 201529,534
End of 201630,831
End of 201730,889
End of 201830,139
End of 201929,407
End of 202028,042
End of 202128,329
End of 202227,097
End of 202325,666
End of 202424,156
End of 202523,336
End of June 202622,820

How old they are

Licensed Mercedes-Benz S-Classes by year of first use.

  • Licensed at the end of 2025
  • First registered that year

A further 2,092 were first used before 2006.

Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025First registered that year
2025354726
2024427527
2023563673
2022500649
2021556971
2020528670
20191,7692,270
20181,8432,682
20172,0892,957
20162,4623,359
20151,9413,068
20141,419
2013829
20121,056
2011794
2010677
2009631
2008647
2007866
2006662

1,941 S-Classes first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 63% of the 3,068 first registered that year.

S-Class engines and fuel

3.0 litre engines made up 46% of Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT tests in 2025, followed by 2.9 litre at 18%. Diesel accounts for 64% of licensed S-Classes and petrol for 21%.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 26,369 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 3.0 litre46.2%
  • 2.9 litre18.1%
  • 3.2 litre8.3%
  • 3.7 litre6.4%
  • 5.5 litre4.4%

Fuel type, licensed S-Classes

DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.

FuelLicensedShare
Petrol4,89421%
Diesel14,67364%
Plug-in hybrid1,5487%
Hybrid electric1,6937%
Gas120.1%

Mercedes-Benz S-Class recalls

92 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every S-Class is affected.

  1. Jun 2026 R/2026/191

    SRPC2604 - Windshield bonding

    S-Classes built Jun 2025 · 2 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain S-Class (223 platform) and EQS (297 platform) vehicles the bonding of the windshield might not meet specifications.
    Remedy
    As a remedy Mercedes-Benz AG via its Mercedes-Benz service partners will replace the windshield.

  2. Apr 2025 R/2025/124

    SRPC2501 - Processor Starter/Generator

    S-Classes built Sep 2022 to Jan 2025 · 235 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Mercedes-Benz has determined that on certain AMG GT Coupe (192 platform)S-Class (223 platform) SL (232 platform) GLC (254 platform) and AMG GT 4-doorsCoupe (290 platform) vehicles with hybrid powertrain the processor of the control unit of the high-voltage starter generator might experience sporadic overload.
    Remedy
    As a remedy Mercedes-Benz AG via its Mercedes-Benz service partners will update the software of the high-voltage starter generator on the affected vehicles.

  3. Mar 2024 R/2024/130

    SRPC2401 - System protection

    S-Classes built Feb 2023 to Sep 2023 · 13,870 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On certain vehicles some 80A fuses installed might not meet requirements.
    Remedy
    Replace the respective main fuse boxes on the affected vehicles.

  4. Feb 2024 R/2024/024

    On affected vehicles the panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof might not have been bonded correctly during a prior service repair

    S-Classes built May 2014 to Mar 2017 · 45 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Check the front fixed element of the panoramic sliding sunroof and replace if necessary.

  5. Oct 2023 R/2023/259

    A 12V ground connection bolt in the boot might not meet specifications

    S-Classes built Aug 2020 to Mar 2023 · 549 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On affected vehicles a 12V ground connection bolt in the boot might not meet specifications.
    Remedy
    Check and rework if necessary.

  6. Aug 2023 R/2023/223

    On affected vehicles the fuel pump impeller might not meet specifications and may deform

    S-Classes built Jun 2021 to Dec 2022 · 9,947 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Replace the fuel pump module.

  7. Aug 2023 R/2023/245

    On affected vehicles a bolt connection in the engine compartment main fuse box might not meet specifications and the torque of the bolt connection may not be sufficient

    S-Classes built Jul 2020 to Oct 2022 · 330 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Check the bolt connection and repair if necessary.

  8. Aug 2023 R/2023/149

    On affected vehicles the voltage converter software of the secondary on-board electrical system might not meet specifications

    S-Classes built Jul 2020 to May 2021 · 165 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Update the voltage converter software of the secondary on-board electrical system via an over-the-air update in accordance with the Mercedes me terms of use or alternatively via its Mercedes-Benz service partners should the over-the-air update not be possible.
How to check a specific S-Class for recalls

Other Mercedes-Benz models

The most-tested Mercedes-Benz models in 2025, against the S-Class's 83.9% MOT pass rate.

All 35 Mercedes-Benz models

Mercedes-Benz S-Class FAQs

How many Mercedes-Benz S-Classes are there in the UK?

22,820 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 9,116 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class reliable?

MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is an 83.9% first-time pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class across 26,391 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.

Has the Mercedes-Benz S-Class had any recalls?

92 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The most recent was published in June 2026. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.

What should I check before buying a used Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: suspension, tyres and brakes. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.

How do I check a Mercedes-Benz S-Class's history?

Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.

Already found an S-Class?

Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.

Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Mercedes-Benz history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Mercedes-Benz VIN check.

  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off records
  • Stolen markers
  • Mileage history
  • Previous keepers

MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.