2014 Mercedes-Benz Cl — MOT failures & pass rate
540 MOT tests on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cl are in this dataset, and 86.1% of them passed. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (13.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.6%) and suspension (4.6%) 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 tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 Cl fails 11.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.6% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.6% | 30 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.6% | 25 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 10 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.9% | 5 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 7 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 7 |
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 | 25.6% | 138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 109 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 99 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 13 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.0% | 11 |
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 | 54 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 223 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 200 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 97 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 109 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 99 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 110 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Cl
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.6% 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 (4.6% 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 (4.4% 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cls pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 540 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Cl?
Brakes, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by suspension (4.6%).
Does the 2014 Cl get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 540 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.