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Mercedes-Benz EQC reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 32,912 MOT tests of cars first registered 2020–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
83.4%pass first time
−2.9 ptsvs typical car
Beats 18%of cars
32,912MOT tests

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz EQC passes its MOT first time on 83.4% of tests, 2.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (86.2%). That puts it ahead of 18% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2020 EQC does best (beats 35% of cars) and the 2023 worst (beats 1%).

The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.

Better than average on visibility, lights & electrics, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Tyres2.2×as often as a typical car
Suspension2.1×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking2.9×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints10.9×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

75%80%85%90%345683%85%84%81%
Mercedes-Benz EQCTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2020
Beats 35%
2021
Beats 24%
2022
Beats 8%
2023
Beats 1%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2020–202332,91283.4%Beats 18%E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Suspension: 2.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 1.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 12.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 1.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.7 ptsTyres: 12.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−6.5 ptsBrakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.7 ptsSuspension: 2.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 2.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 12.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 1.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Lights: 1.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.7 ptsTyres: 12.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−6.5 ptsBrakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.7 ptsSuspension: 2.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 12.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
12.1% vs 5.6%
Suspension
2.2% vs 1.0%
Visibility
1.5% vs 3.2%
Lights & electrics
1.3% vs 3.0%
Brakes
0.5% vs 2.2%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.2%
Body & structure
0.2% vs 0.4%
Seat belts & airbags
0.1% vs 0.3%
Steering
0.0% vs 0.2%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 0.6%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 2.9× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Suspension ball joints 10.9× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

75%80%85%90%95%10k20k30k40k50k60k87%82%84%84%81%79%
Mercedes-Benz EQCTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking11.3%3.9%2.9×
Suspension ball joints2.0%0.2%10.9×
Headlight aim1.1%1.5%0.7×
Windscreen wipers0.8%2.1%0.4×
Tyre tread depth0.7%1.6%0.4×
Windscreen washers0.6%1.0%0.6×
Number plates0.6%0.2%2.9×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)0.3%0.3%0.8×
Size/type0.2%0.1%4.5×
Wheel condition0.2%0.1%3.0×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A tyre cords visible or damaged65.8
A tyre seriously damaged52.6
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn20.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements10.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements7.3
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen5.8
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements4.2
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQC1 engine80.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2,04680.8%Beats 1%E
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQC1 engine82.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric9,57582.4%Beats 8%E
2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC1 engine83.8% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric11,29683.8%Beats 24%D
2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC1 engine84.3% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric9,99584.3%Beats 35%D

FAQ

What is the Mercedes-Benz EQC MOT pass rate?

83.4% of MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz EQC were passed first time, based on 32,912 tests between 2022 and 2026 of cars first registered 2020–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 86.2% of the time.

Is the Mercedes-Benz EQC reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 18% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Mercedes-Benz EQC year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2020 EQC does best for its age and mileage: it beats 35% of cars on UK roads. The 2023 does worst: it beats 1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz EQC?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, suspension ball joints, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 2.9× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.