Mercedes Benz CLS MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Mercedes Benz CLS. Check any CLS by registration number below.

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80.0%

Avg Pass Rate

-10.2%

vs Mercedes Benz Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Mercedes Benz CLS — MOT Reliability Overview

The Mercedes Benz CLS has an average MOT pass rate of 80.0%, which is 10.2 percentage points below the Mercedes Benz brand average of 90.2%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your CLS on the road.

The most common reasons a Mercedes Benz CLS fails its MOT are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel. If you are preparing your CLS for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Mercedes Benz CLS, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Mercedes Benz CLS performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 134 vehicles

88.8%Excellent

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

12.9%

Mileage at 3yr

42k mi

2020

Based on 875 vehicles

82.5%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

8.0%

Retest Rate

18.2%

Mileage at 3yr

42k mi

Mileage at 5yr

65k mi

2019

Based on 3,693 vehicles

87.2%Excellent

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

13.3%

Mileage at 3yr

38k mi

Mileage at 5yr

67k mi

2018

Based on 3,215 vehicles

86.8%Excellent

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

14.4%

Mileage at 5yr

69k mi

2017

Based on 4,487 vehicles

85.5%Excellent

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

16.1%

Mileage at 5yr

78k mi

2016

Based on 6,268 vehicles

84.9%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

15.5%

2015

Based on 8,783 vehicles

84.9%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

17.2%

Mileage at 10yr

138k mi

2014

Based on 5,328 vehicles

80.7%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

20.6%

Mileage at 10yr

142k mi

2013

Based on 8,997 vehicles

79.1%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

21.3%

Mileage at 10yr

147k mi

2012

Based on 3,368 vehicles

79.4%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

20.4%

Mileage at 10yr

150k mi

2011

Based on 3,434 vehicles

78.8%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

4.9%

Retest Rate

22.1%

2010

Based on 3,048 vehicles

72.5%Average

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.5%

Retest Rate

27.8%

2009

Based on 3,128 vehicles

70.7%Average

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

7.6%

Retest Rate

31.0%

2008

Based on 3,863 vehicles

72.4%Average

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

8.5%

Retest Rate

26.7%

2007

Based on 5,043 vehicles

73.3%Average

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

25.3%

2006

Based on 4,206 vehicles

75.1%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

24.1%

2005

Based on 2,661 vehicles

77.3%Good

Mercedes Benz average: 90.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.8%

Retest Rate

18.4%

Top MOT Failures — Mercedes Benz CLS

The most common reasons a Mercedes Benz CLS fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

2.8%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

2.6%

Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel

2.5%

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

1.9%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.8%

Mercedes Benz CLS Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Rear Offside

3.0%

Rear Nearside

2.2%

Front Nearside

2.2%

Other Mercedes Benz Models

Compare MOT reliability across Mercedes Benz models.

Mercedes Benz E 300

94.2% pass rate

Mercedes Benz E

83.5% pass rate

Mercedes Benz Amg Gla 45 S 4matic+ Auto

92.7% pass rate

Mercedes Benz V

85.8% pass rate

Mercedes Benz Vito 112

87.8% pass rate

Mercedes Benz Sl 500

100.0% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Mercedes Benz CLS

Mercedes Benz CLS — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Mercedes Benz CLS MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes Benz CLS?

The average MOT pass rate for the Mercedes Benz CLS is 80.0% compared to the Mercedes Benz average of 90.2%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Benz CLS?

The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes Benz CLS are: A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (2.8%), Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded (2.6%), Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (2.5%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Mercedes Benz CLS reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 80.0%, the Mercedes Benz CLS is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Mercedes Benz CLS?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Mercedes Benz CLS?

Typical mileage for the Mercedes Benz CLS: 41,798 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used CLS to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Mercedes Benz CLS's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.