Mercedes-Benz CLC years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

7,350 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2008–2010 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Mercedes-Benz CLC years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2009–2010. None is clearly above it. The other year can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2009–2010
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from average2008

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

55.4%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 54.3% to 56.5%.

Mercedes-Benz CLC, all years55.4%
Same-age average, all vehicles58.3%

In 2025, 55.4% of the 7,350 initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz CLC cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 58.3%. That is 2.9 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific CLC

Its own MOT history, free.

Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2010age 15	2,36597,200	54.7%±2.1	−4.6 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	3,003103,900	54.8%±1.8	−3.5 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	1,982108,800	57.2%±2.2	0.0 ptsall: 57.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common CLC problems at the MOT

Share of the 3,277 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension57.2%
Lights and electrics40.3%
Brakes26.4%
Tyres21.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors17.7%
Steering11.2%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a CLC

Based on the areas where Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 57.2% of failed CLC tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Lights and electrics
In 40.3% of failed CLC tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Brakes
In 26.4% of failed CLC tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
In 21.5% of failed CLC tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a CLC's MOT history

Mercedes-Benz CLC questions

Which Mercedes-Benz CLC years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2009–2010. None is clearly above average. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Mercedes-Benz CLC reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 55.4% of initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz CLC cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 58.3%. That is 2.9 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz CLC problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 57.2% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 40.3% of failed tests) and brakes (in 26.4% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 15-year-old Mercedes-Benz CLC?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Mercedes-Benz CLC cars first used in 2010, about 15 years old, had a median of 97,200 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific CLC's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Mercedes-Benz CLC

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 23 Mercedes-Benz models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Mercedes-Benz CLC cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count