2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl passed 81.9% of its 326 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.0 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 19.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.7%) and tyres (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Cl fails 18.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 19.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.7% | 25 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 23 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 21 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 12 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 9 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 6 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
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 | 23.6% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.5% | 70 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.3% | 66 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 10 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.5% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 72 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 128 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 74 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 60 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 60 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Cl
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (7.7% 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.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (6.4% 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.
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 Cls pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 326 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz Cl?
Brakes, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2010 Cl get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 326 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.