2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC passed 76.3% of its 3,770 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 5.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.9%) and lighting & signalling (11.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 325 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.0% in the 0-30k band and 26.8% in the 150k+ band, a 15.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 524 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 439 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.7% | 291 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.0% | 190 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 179 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 89 |
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 | 325 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 190 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 173 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 160 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 129 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 125 |
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 | 29.2% | 1,102 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.0% | 904 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.1% | 869 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 476 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 348 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.8% | 333 |
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 | 136 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 858 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,538 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 884 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 271 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,699 | 23.8% |
| Diesel | 71 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 736 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 769 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 797 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 761 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 707 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 CLC
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLCs pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 3,770 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.6%).
Does the 2011 CLC get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,770 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.