2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA passed 94.1% of its 746 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 6.0%, so the 2023 CLA sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and visibility (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 11 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 31 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.2% | 9 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 6 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 11 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 4 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 3 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 2 |
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 | 10.2% | 76 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 32 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.8% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 413 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 305 | 9.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 409 | 4.2% |
| Hybrid | 216 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 121 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2023 CLA
On a 2023 CLA, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Visibility (1.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLAs pass their MOT?
94.1% of the 746 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (1.2%).
Does the 2023 CLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 746 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.