2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS passed 80.5% of its 19,035 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 16.9% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.6%) 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 1,138 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 12.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.1% fail against 19.7% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 19,035 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 1,635 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 1,384 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 1,182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 471 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 350 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 215 |
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 | 1,138 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,124 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 647 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 343 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 307 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 299 |
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 | 34.1% | 6,485 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.5% | 4,855 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.1% | 2,690 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 863 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 610 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 532 |
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 | 280 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,201 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,761 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 5,284 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,458 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,050 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,188 | 19.7% |
| Petrol | 847 | 15.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,947 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 3,916 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 3,842 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 3,690 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 3,640 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 CLS
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 8.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (8.6% 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.
- 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 (6.2% 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
How many 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLSs pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 19,035 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2013 CLS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,035 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.