2000 Mercedes-Benz Clk — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,220 MOT tests, the 2000 Mercedes-Benz Clk recorded a 78.8% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), the 2000 Clk comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 7.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 613 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.4% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 1,099 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 596 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 542 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 456 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 371 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 346 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 613 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 419 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 334 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 300 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 245 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 233 |
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 | 37.4% | 3,074 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.6% | 2,518 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 2,174 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 1,368 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 1,161 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 1,071 |
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 | 160 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 785 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,959 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,591 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,693 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 990 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,186 | 21.1% |
| Diesel | 34 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,351 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 1,956 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 1,607 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,209 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 1,097 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Clk
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
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 2000 Mercedes-Benz Clks pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 8,220 2000 Mercedes-Benz Clk MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mercedes-Benz Clk?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.2%).
Does the 2000 Clk get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,220 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.