2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,081 MOT tests, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS recorded a 78.1% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 23.7% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.3%) and brakes (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rigid brake pipes and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 754 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.9% fail against 23.0% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 10,081 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.8% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.3% | 1,037 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 812 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.6% | 771 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 754 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 401 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 275 |
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 | 754 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 544 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 441 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 368 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 314 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 278 |
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 | 36.1% | 3,643 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 2,887 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.9% | 2,612 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 1,527 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.1% | 916 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 905 |
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 | 113 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 644 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,825 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,753 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,665 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,060 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,402 | 23.0% |
| Petrol | 2,679 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,639 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 2,343 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 2,060 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 1,671 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 1,368 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 CLS
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.3% 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.
- 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.
- Tyres (7.6% 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLSs pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 10,081 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Suspension, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 2006 CLS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,081 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.