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

3,653 Mercedes-Benz X-Classes are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 81.1% of initial MOT tests, 8.8 points above the 72.3% UK average.

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

Mercedes-Benz X-Class at the MOT

81.1% of 3,686 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the X-Class 180th of 575 models. Mercedes-Benz X-Classes aged 3 to 5 years passed 82.8% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 6 to 10 years that fell to 80%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Mercedes-Benz X-Class81.1%
  • All Mercedes-Benz modelsThe X-Class is 4 pts ahead77.1%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Mercedes-Benz X-Class tests in 2025.

  • 3 to 5 years1,473 tests82.8%
  • 6 to 10 years2,213 tests80%

Where X-Classes fail

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

  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.6%
  • Brakes18.4%
  • Tyres15.9%
  • Noise, emissions and leaks11.8%
  • Visibility9.6%

The items testers recorded most often were malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction (10.5%), srs malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1%) and brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick (6.1%).

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

Full Mercedes-Benz X-Class MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

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

  1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

    Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.18.6% of X-Class failure items

  2. 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.18.4% of X-Class failure items

  3. 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.15.9% of X-Class failure items

Mercedes-Benz X-Classes in the UK

3,653 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has grown 109% since the end of 2018, although it peaked at 4,419 at the end of 2020.

Change since 2018
+109%from 1,751 licensed
Typical year of first use
2019half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2019 or earlier
Declared off the road
2556.5% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Mercedes-Benz X-Classes since 2017

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 2017196
End of 20181,751
End of 20193,707
End of 20204,419
End of 20214,239
End of 20224,040
End of 20233,692
End of 20243,723
End of 20253,739
End of June 20263,653

How old they are

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

  • Licensed at the end of 2025
  • First registered that year
Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025First registered that year
2020658825
20191,6462,079
20181,2831,646
2017151196

X-Class engine sizes

2.3 litre engines made up 68% of Mercedes-Benz X-Class MOT tests in 2025, followed by 3.0 litre at 32%. Diesel accounts for 100% of licensed X-Classes.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 3,686 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 2.3 litre68.3%
  • 3.0 litre31.7%

Mercedes-Benz X-Class recalls

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

  1. Jul 2023 R/2023/191

    On affected vehicles due to a potential error in the press-fitting process during production a leak at the radial shaft seals of the rear axle could occur and allow oil to enter the parking brake drum

    X-Classes built Oct 2017 to May 2020 · 4,731 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Replace the radial shaft sealing rings in the rear axle tube and parking brake shoes if contaminated

  2. Jun 2022 R/2022/155

    On certain vehicles the glass of the canopy rear window could break

    X-Classes built Oct 2017 to May 2020 · 4,738 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    As a precautionary measure install EPDM blocks (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber) in the rear section of the canopy for vehicles that were additionally equipped with a canopy.

  3. Nov 2021 R/2021/385

    The return pipe of the oil cooler could chafe on the front axle cross member

    X-Classes built Aug 2017 to May 2020 · 1,546 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The return pipe of the oil cooler may chafe on the front axle cross member.
    Remedy
    Measure the distance between the return line and the front axle cross member on the potentially affected vehicles and check the oil line for leaks and damage. If necessary the oil line will be replaced and the distance ensured with the aid of a new retainer.

  4. Dec 2020 R/2020/270

    The function of the child safety lock on the rear doors in combination with the super lock function cannot always be ensured

    X-Classes built Nov 2017 to Apr 2018 · 1,128 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The child safety lock on the rear doors in combination with the Super-Lock function cannot always be ensured.
    Remedy
    Install an additional grommet on the rear doors on the child safety lever on the affected vehicles.

  5. Oct 2020 R/2020/258

    Potential leakage and gradual loss of fluid from the hydraulic steering system may occur

    X-Classes built Nov 2017 to Nov 2019 · 4,535 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Leakage and subsequently a gradual loss of fluid from the hydraulic steering system.
    Remedy
    Check the screw connection of the hydraulic steering line and ensure the correct tightening torque is applied. Top up fluid level if required.

  6. Sep 2020 R/2020/173

    The additional function for the trailer stabilization may not have been included as part of the retrofitting of trailer hitches

    X-Classes built Feb 2018 to Oct 2018 · 30 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The additional function for the trailer stabilization (TSA) might not have been included as part of the retrofitting of trailer hitches.
    Remedy
    Replace the ESP control unit on the affected vehicles to provide the TSA function.

  7. Sep 2020 R/2020/171

    The operator's manual does not indicate the correct maximum roof load values

    X-Classes built Nov 2007 to Feb 2020 · 4,631 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Replace the operator's manuals and update software for the vehicle's digital operating manual.

  8. Sep 2020 R/2020/216

    The active brake assist may mistakenly detect an obstacle where there is no obstacle

    X-Classes built Nov 2017 to May 2019 · 4,089 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Active Brake Assist system may mistakenly detect an obstacle where there is no obstacle
    Remedy
    Update the software of the driver assistance systems control unit in the affected vehicle
How to check a specific X-Class for recalls

Other Mercedes-Benz models

The most-tested Mercedes-Benz models in 2025, against the X-Class's 81.1% MOT pass rate.

All 35 Mercedes-Benz models

Mercedes-Benz X-Class FAQs

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

3,653 Mercedes-Benz X-Classes were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 255 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Mercedes-Benz X-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 81.1% first-time pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz X-Class across 3,686 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.

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

11 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Mercedes-Benz X-Class. The most recent was published in July 2023. 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 X-Class?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, brakes and tyres. 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 X-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 X-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.