2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate and common faults

1,048 MOT tests in 2024. 74.0% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time74.0%
Failed or needed repairs26.0%
Typical mileage at test95,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,048 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.0%
    47 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    41 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.7%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.6%
    21 marked dangerous
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5%
  9. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.3%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.1%
    16 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres12.3%
  2. Brakes11.5%
  3. Suspension11.0%
  4. Lights & electrics4.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks3.3%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.8%
  7. Wheels1.0%
  8. Body & chassis1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.1%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.3%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.2%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.4%

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 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

In 2024, 74.0% of 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,048 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

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

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 115, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).