2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT pass rate and common faults

2,128 MOT tests in 2024. 53.9% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time53.9%
Failed or needed repairs46.1%
Typical mileage at test105,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,128 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn10.2%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken8.3%
  3. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.3%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.1%
    160 marked dangerous
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.9%
  6. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.4%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.1%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.8%
  9. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.4%
  10. Position lamp: not working2.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension38.6%
  2. Lights & electrics23.2%
  3. Brakes19.3%
  4. Tyres10.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.8%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  7. Steering4.3%
  8. Body & chassis2.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded24.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.5%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn9.1%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All CLC years2009 CLC →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC?

In 2024, 53.9% of 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,128 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).