2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS passed 77.0% of its 12,091 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 23.1%, so the 2007 CLS sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.9%) and brakes (8.6%) 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 1,021 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.3% versus 9.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.3pp more often than petrol ones (23.5% vs 19.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.9% in 2021 to 21.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.9% | 1,316 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 1,044 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 997 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 946 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 441 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 373 |
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 | 1,021 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 788 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 549 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 491 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 357 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 340 |
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 | 35.7% | 4,318 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.5% | 3,444 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.8% | 3,355 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 1,478 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.7% | 1,176 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 990 |
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 | 89 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 564 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,078 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,687 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,079 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,571 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,505 | 23.5% |
| Petrol | 1,586 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,036 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 2,768 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 2,435 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 2,124 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 1,728 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 CLS
On a 2007 CLS, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.9% 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.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLSs pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 12,091 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Suspension, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 2007 CLS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,091 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.