2021 · 3 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate and common faults

246 MOT tests in 2024. 80.5% passed first time, compared with 87.6% for all cars the same age.

92Well below average
Passed first time80.5%
Failed or needed repairs19.5%
Typical mileage at test23,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 246 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Road Wheels - condition: fractured8.1%
    32 marked dangerous
  2. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.1%
    14 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.1%
    13 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.4%
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  6. Road Wheels - condition: has a welding defect1.2%
    4 marked dangerous
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.2%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.8%
    3 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn0.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres13.0%
  2. Wheels10.2%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.0%
  4. Emissions & leaks1.2%
  5. Suspension0.8%
  6. Body & chassis0.8%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.4%
  8. Lights & electrics0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm7.7%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords5.7%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.5%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure3.3%
  5. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: road wheels - condition: fractured. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2020 CLSAll CLS years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

In 2024, 80.5% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars passed their MOT first time, across 246 tests. The average for all 3-year-old cars was 87.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS?

The most common failure reasons were road wheels - condition: fractured; tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 92, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).