Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A appears in 976 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2023, and 86.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.2% fail rate), the Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A comes out 4.9pp worse. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 10.3% of tests against 1.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 7.7% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.7% of tests failed in 2022 against 13.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 183 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 409 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 345 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.3% | 100 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 17 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.2% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 12 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 7 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 18 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 5 | Wipers | 8 |
| 6 | Washers | 5 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 8 | Flexible brake hoses | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.3% | 198 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 93 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 43 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 28 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 12 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 544 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 389 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 39 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 193 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 357 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 379 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A
- Tyres (10.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A?
86.0% of the 976 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.0% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 10.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (1.7%).
How much does mileage affect Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 7.7% for 60-90k, a 4.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 976 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.