Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mercedes-Benz Cl passed on its first attempt in 80.7%, and its overall record sits +2.0 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mercedes-Benz Cl in the 2023–2025 data: 9,930 tests across 15 model years (2000–2014). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mercedes-Benz Cl, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Mercedes-Benz Cl's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mercedes-Benz Cl DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mercedes-Benz Cl, each with how many of the model's 9,930 tests it was noted on.

• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 279 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 2.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 255 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 2.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 236 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 2.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 219 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 2.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded" (Major) — noted on about 116 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak" (Major) — noted on about 90 Mercedes-Benz Cl tests, 0.9% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mercedes-Benz Cl Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mercedes-Benz Cl model year on record is 2014 (85.6% across 312 tests), and the weakest is 2000 (79.4%). The gap between them is 6.2 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mercedes-Benz Cl Owners

These checks follow this Mercedes-Benz Cl's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mercedes-Benz Cl.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mercedes-Benz Cl. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT & Reliability