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MOT statistics · 2023 tests

Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate, common failures and mileage

In 2023, 77.5% of 25,386 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CLS ended in a pass, 1.0 points above the 76.5% average for all cars. Comparing like for like at ages 3 to 10, it passed 81.9% against 82.0%, ranking 81st of 148 models.

Pass rate
77.5%
All cars 76.5%
Tests
25,386
Initial MOTs in 2023
Ages 3 to 10
81.9%
All cars 82.0% · rank 81 of 148
Mileage at 10
91k
Median; middle half 69k to 113k

Pass rate and mileage by age

Each row covers the Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests at that age. Mileage shows the median and the middle half of odometer readings, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.

AgePass rateMileage
3674 tests
83.2%
27,000 · 21k to 39k
41,146 tests
83.8%
37,000 · 27k to 49k
51,098 tests
84.5%
45,000 · 33k to 59k
61,954 tests
83.0%
53,000 · 39k to 69k
72,530 tests
83.2%
65,000 · 49k to 83k
82,413 tests
83.2%
73,000 · 57k to 93k
92,588 tests
76.3%
83,000 · 63k to 105k
102,228 tests
76.3%
91,000 · 69k to 113k
111,198 tests
77.6%
93,000 · 71k to 115k
121,212 tests
74.6%
101,000 · 79k to 125k
131,289 tests
67.6%
107,000 · 83k to 133k
141,211 tests
70.1%
113,000 · 89k to 139k
151,957 tests
72.0%
117,000 · 93k to 145k
161,787 tests
71.6%
117,000 · 91k to 145k
171,452 tests
74.7%
111,000 · 85k to 139k
18450 tests
76.9%
103,000 · 81k to 129k
CLS pass rateAll cars at that ageMiddle half of mileages

Most common MOT failures and advisories

How often each item came up, per 100 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Advisories are things the tester noted that did not fail the car, often wear that will need attention soon. Follow an item to see what it means and how serious it is.

Failures

Tyres
A tyre cords visible or damaged
3.1in 100 tests
Coil springs
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
3.1in 100 tests
Tyre tread
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2.3in 100 tests
Brake pipes
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
2.2in 100 tests
Suspension joints
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
2.1in 100 tests
Wheels
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
1.0in 100 tests
Brake performance
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
1.0in 100 tests
Headlight aim
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
0.9in 100 tests

Advisories and minor defects

Brake pipes
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
11.7in 100 tests
Brake pads
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
7.3in 100 tests
Brake discs
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
7.2in 100 tests
Engine oil leaks
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
4.6in 100 tests
Wheel bearings
A wheel bearing with excessive play
4.3in 100 tests
Brake discs
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
2.8in 100 tests
Suspension bushes
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
2.7in 100 tests
Tyre tread
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2.7in 100 tests

What to check on a used CLS

The parts that come up most often in Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs, and how to look at them on a viewing.

  1. Brake pipes and hoses
    Look underneath at the metal brake pipes for heavy rust, and at the rubber hoses for cracks or bulges.
  2. Brake discs and pads
    Ask when the discs and pads were last replaced, and look through the wheel for a raised lip on the edge of the disc.
  3. Oil leaks
    Look under the engine and gearbox, and at the ground where the car was parked, for fresh oil.
  4. Wheel bearings
    On the test drive, listen for a hum or rumble that rises with speed.
  5. Tyres
    Check the tread across the full width of every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts and bulges in the sidewalls.

Check a specific CLS

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate of the Mercedes-Benz CLS?
In 2023, 77.5% of 25,386 initial MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CLS ended in a pass, against 76.5% for all cars and light vans. At ages 3 to 10, with the same age mix as all cars, it was 81.9% against 82.0%.
What fails most often on a Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT?
The most common failures were tyres (3.1 in 100 tests), coil springs (3.1 in 100 tests), tyre tread (2.3 in 100 tests).
What is a normal mileage for a 10-year-old Mercedes-Benz CLS?
At 10 years old, the median Mercedes-Benz CLS at its MOT had covered 91,000 miles, and the middle half had between 69,000 and 113,000 miles.
What do MOT testers most often advise on a Mercedes-Benz CLS?
The most common advisories were brake pipes (11.7 in 100 tests), brake pads (7.3 in 100 tests), brake discs (7.2 in 100 tests).

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Overall MOT pass rate in 2023. Compare all Mercedes-Benz models or see every make.

C-Class78.1%E-Class79.9%Sprinter73.0%Vito72.7%GLA88.6%A-Class89.3%GLC89.8%SLK75.9%CLA83.7%M-Class76.1%CLK67.1%GLE89.6%CLS77.5%SL84.9%Citan72.1%V-Class84.0%CLC60.5%SLC88.8%B-Class92.5%Viano71.3%

How these figures are made. We counted every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 from the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Pass rate is the share of initial tests that ended in a pass, counting faults fixed during the test. Age is whole years from first registration to the test, so a car having its first MOT a few weeks early counts as 2.

Like-for-like pass rates average each model's pass rate at ages 3 to 10 with the same age mix for every model, so a model is not flattered by a young fleet or penalised by an old one. Models are grouped by the first word of the DVSA model name, and names that cover several models are left out.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.