2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A passed 84.8% of its 409 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (9.3% fail rate), the 2020 Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A comes out 5.8pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 11.0% of tests against 1.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 11.0% | 45 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 7 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 1.5% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 5 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 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 | 10 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 5 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 3 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 2 |
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 | 22.0% | 90 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 41 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.7% | 15 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 10 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 2.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 5 |
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 | 215 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 168 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 135 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 136 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 132 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (11.0% 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 (1.7% 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
How many 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic As pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 409 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A?
Tyres, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2020 Amg Cla 35 + 4Matic A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 409 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.