2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic passed 86.7% of its 548 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 9.3% of tests against 1.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 21 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.3% | 51 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 9 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 6 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 6 | Wipers | 5 |
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 | 18.8% | 103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 53 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 29 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 6 |
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 | 258 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 265 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 177 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 181 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 184 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Amg Cla 35 4Matic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (9.3% 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 (1.6% 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
How many 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matics pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 548 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Amg Cla 35 4Matic?
Tyres, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).
Does the 2020 Amg Cla 35 4Matic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 548 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.