2018 · 6 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate and common faults

912 MOT tests in 2024. 82.6% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time82.6%
Failed or needed repairs17.4%
Typical mileage at test47,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 912 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  2. Road Wheels - condition: fractured2.4%
    32 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
    32 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure2.2%
    28 marked dangerous
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    33 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.0%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.4%
    18 marked dangerous
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.2%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.7%
    10 marked dangerous
  10. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres10.5%
  2. Suspension3.7%
  3. Wheels3.0%
  4. Emissions & leaks1.6%
  5. Lights & electrics1.4%
  6. Brakes1.3%
  7. Body & chassis0.8%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.6%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.3%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.4%
  5. Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn4.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

In 2024, 82.6% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars passed their MOT first time, across 912 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; road wheels - condition: fractured; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable at MOT time?

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