Mercedes-Benz Clk MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mercedes-Benz Clk appears in 204,964 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2025, and 74.7% of them passed. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 21.9%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
Best and worst Clk years
Ranked across Clk 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
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2000 cars pass 78.8% of the time while 2004 cars manage 73.4%, a 5.4-point spread.
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and coil spring — ball joint alone was recorded 14,711 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.4% in the 150k+ band, a 16.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.4% fail against 28.7% for diesel, a 4.3-point gap across 204,948 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Clk model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 189 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 1,690 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 6,206 | 77.7% | 22.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 8,220 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 9,981 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 12,161 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 21,664 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 28,784 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 28,676 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 23,012 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 25,849 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 17,979 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 19,765 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 447 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 126 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 72 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.7% | 30,048 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 22,889 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 16,715 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 12,472 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 8,544 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 8,024 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.4% | 4,974 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 4,455 |
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 | 14,711 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13,301 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 13,249 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 8,663 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 7,662 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 6,938 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 6,323 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 5,187 |
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 | 36.8% | 75,407 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 65,680 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 54,428 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 29,292 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 19,675 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 18,920 |
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 | 3,414 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 21,490 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 52,539 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 62,608 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 40,092 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 24,249 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 162,282 | 24.4% |
| Diesel | 42,666 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50,414 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 45,743 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 41,284 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 36,031 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 31,492 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Clk
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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 Clk?
74.7% of the 204,964 Mercedes-Benz Clk MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.3% fail rate, across model years 1980–2025.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Clk most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (11.2%).
Which Clk years are best and worst for MOT results?
2000 has the best pass rate at 78.8% and 2004 the weakest at 73.4%, from 8,220 and 28,784 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Clk MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.4% for 150k+, a 16.8-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Clk more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 24.4% of the time against 28.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 204,964 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.