2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 968 MOT tests, the 2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 recorded an 81.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2001 Cl 500 comes out 8.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and suspension (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are individual direction indicators, ball joint and shock absorbers — individual direction indicators alone was recorded 53 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 30-60k band and 19.8% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 87 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 43 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 37 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Individual direction indicators | 53 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 52 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 31 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 31 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.3% | 293 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.5% | 286 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 207 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 139 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 112 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 98 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 70 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 192 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 344 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 232 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 268 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 218 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 184 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 147 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 151 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Cl 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Brakes (4.4% 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 2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500s pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 968 2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2001 Cl 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 968 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.