2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,400 MOT tests, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS recorded an 81.2% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (19.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.3%) and suspension (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 323 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 9.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.8% fail against 19.2% for diesel, a 4.4-point gap across 7,396 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 538 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 537 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 412 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 314 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 157 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 323 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 276 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 273 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 174 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 113 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 112 |
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 | 30.5% | 2,257 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.5% | 1,811 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.3% | 1,284 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 386 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 330 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 263 |
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 | 131 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,000 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,263 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,150 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,226 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 628 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,732 | 19.2% |
| Petrol | 664 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,634 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 1,566 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 1,506 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 1,391 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 1,303 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 CLS
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
- Suspension (7.3% 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 (5.6% 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.
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 CLSs pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 7,400 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2011 CLS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,400 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.