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Mercedes: reliability & common problems

#23 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~190k
~91k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
267
Mercedes vehicles inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
62/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 267 used Mercedes vehicles we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 62/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
65%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
51%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
39%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
36%
Electronic components issues · Engine
19%

Share of inspected Mercedes vehicles where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 26% Good 30% Mediocre 24% Poor 21%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Mercedes vehicles.

78%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
1%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
19%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Mercedes vs BMW · Mercedes vs Lexus · Mercedes vs Audi

How long does a Mercedes last?

Across every Mercedes body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~91k miles. It ranks Mercedes #23 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~190k. Shopping a Mercedes near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 89% in good shape (28 cars) 20–40k mi: 78% in good shape (49 cars) 40–60k mi: 72% in good shape (46 cars) 60–80k mi: 52% in good shape (42 cars) 80–100k mi: 47% in good shape (34 cars) 100–120k mi: 13% in good shape (23 cars) 120–140k mi: 24% in good shape (17 cars) 140–160k mi: 0% in good shape (8 cars) 160–180k mi: 0% in good shape (6 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 90% in good shape (10 cars) 2 years old: 94% in good shape (16 cars) 3 years old: 88% in good shape (25 cars) 4 years old: 80% in good shape (25 cars) 5 years old: 65% in good shape (26 cars) 6 years old: 61% in good shape (23 cars) 7 years old: 59% in good shape (22 cars) 8 years old: 58% in good shape (19 cars) 9 years old: 38% in good shape (16 cars) 10 years old: 27% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 44% in good shape (9 cars) 12 years old: 21% in good shape (14 cars) 13 years old: 8% in good shape (12 cars) 14 years old: 33% in good shape (9 cars) 16 years old: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Mercedes vehicles in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Mercedes getting better?
▲ Newer Mercedes vehicles are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 43% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 44%) 43 2015–17: 57% in good shape (age-adjusted; 41 cars, raw 59%) 57 2018+: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 36 cars, raw 67%) 59 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Share of Mercedes vehicles in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Mercedes models we've inspected
S-Class 28 cars · 68% good E-Class 31 cars · 58% good C-Class 31 cars · 42% good GLC 20 cars · profile soon Sprinter 18 cars · profile soon GLE 15 cars · profile soon ML 13 cars · profile soon SLK 12 cars · profile soon GLS 12 cars · profile soon GLK 11 cars · profile soon SL 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2020 Mercedes CLS 53 · 25k mi — flagged: battery condition, worn brake rotors, leaking or worn shock absorbers. Inspected Aug 31.
1999 Mercedes SL 500 · 121k mi — flagged: smoothness, oil leaks, engine control module. Inspected Aug 29.
The bottom line

Oil leaks and live error codes dominate these cars, so start every viewing under the engine with a light and a scanner before you talk price. Condition typically dips below decent around 91,000 miles, almost last among brands, so anything near that mileage needs a steep discount or you walk. Skip the 2012–14 cars; they lag even after age adjustment. Stick to 2015 and newer, glance at the tires, and walk if the engine is weeping and the scan is dirty.

FAQ
?
Is Mercedes reliable?
56% of the 267 Mercedes vehicles we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 62/100 — they are in about average shape.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Mercedes?
Across the Mercedes vehicles we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (65%), active error codes (51%), tires condition & wear (39%).
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Are newer Mercedes vehicles more reliable than older ones?
Yes — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), newer Mercedes vehicles hold up clearly better than the early-2010s ones.
Thinking of buying a Mercedes? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 267 inspections · updated Sep 11, 2026