2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate and common faults

924 MOT tests in 2024. 68.6% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time68.6%
Failed or needed repairs31.4%
Typical mileage at test105,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 924 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.3%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.7%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.8%
    34 marked dangerous
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.4%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.3%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.2%
  7. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.8%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.6%
    29 marked dangerous
  10. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension16.1%
  2. Lights & electrics15.2%
  3. Brakes9.4%
  4. Tyres8.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.1%
  7. Steering3.0%
  8. Body & chassis1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.5%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.7%

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.

All CLS years2006 CLS →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

In 2024, 68.6% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars passed their MOT first time, across 924 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).