2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate and common faults

1,059 MOT tests in 2024. 73.0% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

118Well above average
Passed first time73.0%
Failed or needed repairs27.0%
Typical mileage at test98,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,059 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.2%
  2. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.5%
    34 marked dangerous
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.4%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    35 marked dangerous
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.6%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%
  8. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.5%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.5%
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension11.4%
  2. Brakes9.3%
  3. Tyres8.9%
  4. Lights & electrics6.6%
  5. Emissions & leaks3.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.1%
  7. Wheels1.0%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.8%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.4%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

In 2024, 73.0% of 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,059 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 118, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).