Mercedes Benz 312 MOT Failures
An analysis of 1,822 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mercedes Benz 312 — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Mercedes Benz 312 fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mercedes Benz 312 is load sensing valve linkage defective — this model is 91 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 1,822 MOT tests, 5.08% of all Mercedes Benz 312 tests recorded this as a failure.
Brake failures on the MOT range from worn pads and discs (routine maintenance) to corroded brake lines and seized calipers (more serious). Check for any pulling under braking and listen for grinding.
Other notable weak points include light unit fault (35x the fleet average), lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (19x the fleet average), abs fault (18x the fleet average), and coil springs broken (17x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mercedes Benz 312's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Brakes, Lights & Electrics, Bodywork, Suspension, Steering. If you're inspecting a Mercedes Benz 312 before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
What to check before buying a Mercedes Benz 312
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mercedes Benz 312:
Brakes — check for load sensing valve linkage defective. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault, lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m.... Bodywork — check for abs fault.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Mercedes Benz 312?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Mercedes Benz 312 MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Benz 312?
Based on 1,822 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is load sensing valve linkage defective — at 91x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include light unit fault and lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m....
Is the Mercedes Benz 312 reliable based on MOT data?
The Mercedes Benz 312 has 6 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is load sensing valve linkage defective. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Mercedes Benz 312 most commonly fails on load sensing valve linkage defective and light unit fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are .
How do I check a Mercedes Benz 312's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.