2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK MOT pass rate and common faults

3,866 MOT tests in 2024. 61.4% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time61.4%
Failed or needed repairs38.6%
Typical mileage at test102,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,866 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.1%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.7%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.0%
  4. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.1%
  5. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7%
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    167 marked dangerous
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2%
  10. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension27.7%
  2. Lights & electrics22.2%
  3. Brakes16.0%
  4. Tyres8.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks6.1%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  7. Steering4.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.3%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.3%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.1%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened8.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. 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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK?

In 2024, 61.4% of 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,866 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).