Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT pass rate & common failures
59,755 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CLC (1999–2019) give it a 71.7% pass rate. That is 8.3 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.0%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
Best and worst CLC years
Ranked across CLC years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 76.3% of 2011 examples pass against 70.9% of 2008 ones.
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.8% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 6,838 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.1% fail against 30.4% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 59,754 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every CLC model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 63 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 15,583 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 23,118 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 17,103 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 3,770 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.8% | 11,258 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 7,636 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 4,834 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.2% | 4,320 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 3,344 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 1,850 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 1,687 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 1,010 |
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 | 6,838 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,673 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,945 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,597 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,383 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 2,034 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,004 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 1,935 |
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 | 32.1% | 19,171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 18,191 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 17,003 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 8,596 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 6,006 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 4,738 |
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 | 976 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,223 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 18,908 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 19,126 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 9,446 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,024 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 37,893 | 27.1% |
| Diesel | 21,861 | 30.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,936 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 12,721 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 12,328 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 11,317 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 10,453 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz CLC
- Suspension (18.8% 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 (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz CLC?
71.7% of the 59,755 Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.3% fail rate, across model years 1999–2019.
What does the Mercedes-Benz CLC most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 18.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.8%).
Which CLC years are best and worst for MOT results?
2011 has the best pass rate at 76.3% and 2008 the weakest at 70.9%, from 3,770 and 15,583 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect CLC MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.9% for 150k+, a 17.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel CLC more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 27.1% of the time against 30.4% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,755 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.