Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic MOT pass rate & common failures
1,512 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic (2019–2023) give it an 88.0% pass rate. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.0%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 8.9% of tests against 1.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Amg Cla 35 4Matic fails 10.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Amg Cla 35 4Matic model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 199 | 90.0% | 10.1% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 548 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 407 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 352 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.9% | 134 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.1% | 16 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 14 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 13 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.7% | 11 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 39 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 5 | Washers | 11 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 8 |
| 8 | Wipers | 8 |
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 | 19.6% | 297 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 127 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 78 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 38 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 8 |
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 | 852 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 612 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 49 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 240 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 449 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 774 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic
- Tyres (8.9% 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.
- Suspension (1.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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?
88.0% of the 1,512 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.0% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 8.9% of tests, then suspension (1.1%).
How much does mileage affect Amg Cla 35 4Matic MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 8.9% for 60-90k, a 1.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,512 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.