2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA passed 83.2% of its 26,016 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 17.5%, so the 2014 CLA sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.7%) and suspension (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 886 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 20.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 16.0% of the time against 17.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 2,012 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.3% | 1,386 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 1,206 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 781 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 747 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 747 |
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 | 886 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 785 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 680 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 630 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 610 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 554 |
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 | 26.5% | 6,886 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 5,260 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 1,985 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,578 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,044 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 416 |
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 | 731 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,027 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 10,147 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,149 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,181 | 19.8% |
| 150k+ | 773 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,343 | 17.4% |
| Petrol | 9,673 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,186 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 5,194 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 5,247 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 5,221 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 5,168 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 CLA
On a 2014 CLA, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.7% 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 (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 CLAs pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 26,016 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by suspension (5.3%).
Does the 2014 CLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,016 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.