Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class passes its MOT first time on 57.3% of tests, 3.3 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (60.6%). That puts it ahead of 36% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2008 CLC-Class does best (beats 38% of cars) and the 2010 worst (beats 32%).
Of its engines, the 1.8 Petrol does best (beats 37%) and the 2.1 Diesel worst (beats 34%).
Better than average on emissions & leaks, body & structure, seat belts & airbags.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 58.9% | Beats 37% | D |
| 2.1 Diesel | 54.5% | Beats 34% | D |
| 1.6 Petrol | 59.1% | Beats 35% | D |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Suspension ball joints 4.5× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Coil springs 1.9× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Tyre tread depth 1.4× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Track rod ends 1.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Windscreen washers 1.4× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Handbrake performance 1.5× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension ball joints | 10.4% | 2.3% | 4.5× |
| Coil springs | 8.1% | 4.2% | 1.9× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 5.0% | 4.1% | 1.2× |
| Tyre tread depth | 4.7% | 3.3% | 1.4× |
| Windscreen washers | 4.3% | 3.0% | 1.4× |
| Headlight aim | 4.2% | 4.5% | 0.9× |
| Sidelights | 3.6% | 5.1% | 0.7× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 3.3% | 3.2% | 1.0× |
| Track rod ends | 3.3% | 2.0% | 1.7× |
| Handbrake performance | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.5× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 129.3 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 80.8 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 48.2 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 46.9 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 42.6 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 41.6 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 31.1 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 30.3 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class1 engine65.4% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 65.4% | Beats 46% | C |
2010 Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class3 engines58.8% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 59.4% | Beats 30% | D |
| 2.1 Diesel | 57.5% | Beats 37% | D |
| 1.6 Petrol | 58.9% | Beats 31% | D |
2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class3 engines56.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 58.5% | Beats 39% | D |
| 2.1 Diesel | 53.5% | Beats 31% | D |
| 1.6 Petrol | 59.5% | Beats 43% | C |
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class2 engines54.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 56.2% | Beats 39% | D |
| 2.1 Diesel | 53.7% | Beats 38% | D |
FAQ
What is the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class MOT pass rate?
57.3% of MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class were passed first time, based on 77,514 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2008–2011. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 60.6% of the time.
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 36% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2008 CLC-Class does best for its age and mileage: it beats 38% of cars on UK roads. The 2010 does worst: it beats 32%.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.8 Petrol does best: it beats 37% of cars on UK roads. The 2.1 Diesel does worst: it beats 34%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class?
The most common failure items are suspension ball joints, coil springs, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, suspension ball joints comes up 4.5× as often.