Mercedes-Benz CLS400 MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mercedes-Benz CLS400 MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mercedes-Benz CLS400 passed on its first attempt in 80.7%, and its overall record sits +2.3 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mercedes-Benz CLS400 in the 2023–2025 data: 396 tests across 1 model years (2021–2021). 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 CLS400 MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mercedes-Benz CLS400, the Tyres 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 CLS400's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mercedes-Benz CLS400 DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mercedes-Benz CLS400, each with how many of the model's 396 tests it was noted on.

• "Fractured" (Major) — noted on about 28 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 7.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure" (Major) — noted on about 12 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 12 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has ply or cords exposed" (Major) — noted on about 9 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 2.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords" (Major) — noted on about 7 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (Major) — noted on about 5 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mercedes-Benz CLS400 Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mercedes-Benz CLS400 model year on record is 2021 (83.3% across 396 tests), and the weakest is 2021 (83.3%). 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 CLS400 Owners

These checks follow this Mercedes-Benz CLS400's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mercedes-Benz CLS400.

• 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 wipers and washers — “wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively”

  Run the wipers with the screen wet: they should clear it in one sweep without smearing or juddering. Top the washer bottle up and check both jets hit the screen.

• the number plates — “registration plates does not conform to the specified requirements”

  Check both plates are present, legible and correctly spaced, with the postcode of the supplier and the BS AU 145e mark. A private plate in the wrong style is a fail before the car is even looked at.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mercedes-Benz CLS400. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mercedes-Benz CLS400 MOT & Reliability