2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA passed 88.3% of its 37,882 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,247 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.7% versus 8.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.6% of the time against 12.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 2,695 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.5% | 958 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 766 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 730 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 518 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 202 |
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 | 1,247 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 968 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 675 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 468 |
| 5 | Washers | 428 |
| 6 | Wipers | 427 |
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 | 25.3% | 9,582 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 5,428 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 2,289 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,252 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 466 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 435 |
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 | 14,974 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 18,366 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,935 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 531 | 14.7% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,198 | 11.6% |
| Diesel | 4,679 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 407 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 9,549 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 9,455 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 9,241 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 9,230 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 CLA
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
- Visibility (2.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLAs pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 37,882 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.5%).
Does the 2019 CLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,882 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.