Used car guide

2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Mercedes-Benz SLC first registered in 2016 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 3,298 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,298MOTs of 2016 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
82%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 77%)
5,400typical miles a year
5.2×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Wheel bearings5.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.6% All 2016 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Wheels2.5× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.5% All 2016 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Better than most

Brake pads: 3.4% here, against 10.5% of all 2016 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.9% here, against 4.9% of all 2016 cars.

Common 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    11% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    9% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    1% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SLC?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mercedes-Benz SLC compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021386Tyres 23%
20201,766Tyres 21%
20192,936Tyres 26%
20184,423Tyres 29%
201710,226Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mercedes-Benz SLC cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score