2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 600 MOT tests, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 recorded an 84.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), the 2010 Cl 500 comes out 8.6pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.5%) and suspension (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), tread depth and shock absorbers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Cl 500 fails 13.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.6% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.5% | 39 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 33 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 29 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 27 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 19 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 12 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 12 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 11 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 9 |
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 | 25.5% | 153 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.2% | 121 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.0% | 114 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 15 |
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 | 151 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 214 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 156 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 128 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 121 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 120 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 110 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Cl 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.5% 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.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
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 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500s pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 600 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500?
Brakes, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2010 Cl 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 30-60k band to 17.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 600 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.