Mercedes-Benz Cla
From 107,521 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Clas fare better: 2022 models pass at 95.3% vs 80.3% for 2013.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 2,582 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,582 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,057 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,802 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,282 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,201 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,076 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 965 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 871 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 554 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 532 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17.4% of Cla failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 47.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £102.
Mercedes-Benz Cla on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 11,859 newly registered in the past year with 2,325 leaving, a net gain of 9,534. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 102,497 | 2,113 | +2,802 | -1,367 | +1,435 |
| 2025 Q2 | 101,120 | 2,055 | +3,141 | -220 | +2,921 |
| 2025 Q1 | 98,303 | 1,951 | +3,312 | -553 | +2,759 |
| 2024 Q4 | 95,672 | 1,823 | +2,604 | -185 | +2,419 |
| 2024 Q3 | 93,344 | 1,732 | +4,107 | -479 | +3,628 |
| 2024 Q2 | 89,823 | 1,625 | +3,815 | -352 | +3,463 |
| 2024 Q1 | 86,381 | 1,604 | +4,083 | -545 | +3,538 |
| 2023 Q4 | 82,929 | 1,518 | +2,874 | -0 | +3,052 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cla 200 Amg Ln Executve Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 5,436 | 8% |
| Cla 250 Amg Line Premium E A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,936 | 8% |
| Cla 180 Amg Line Premium + A | Petrol | 4,659 | 7% |
| Cla220 Amg Sport Cdi Auto | Diesel | 4,488 | 7% |
| Cla 220 D Amg Line Auto | Diesel | 4,344 | 7% |
| Cla 180 Amg Ln Executve Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,134 | 6% |
| Cla 200 Amg Line Auto | Petrol | 4,014 | 6% |
| Cla 220 Amg Line Premium + D A | Diesel | 3,907 | 6% |
| Cla 180 Amg Line Auto | Petrol | 3,846 | 6% |
| Cla 200 Amg Line Premium Auto | Petrol | 3,643 | 6% |
| Cla 180 Amg Line Premium Auto | Petrol | 3,281 | 5% |
| Cla 250 Amg Line Executive E A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,571 | 4% |
| Cla 200 Amg Ln Prem + Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,539 | 4% |
| Cla 250 Amg Line Premium + E A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,471 | 4% |
| Cla 220 Amg Line Premium D A | Diesel | 1,855 | 3% |
| Cla 200 Amg Line Premium + A | Petrol | 1,772 | 3% |
| Cla 220 Amg Sport D Auto | Diesel | 1,740 | 3% |
| Cla 180 Amg Line Prem + Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,738 | 3% |
| Cla 180 Amg Lne Premium Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,499 | 2% |
| Cla 220 Sport D Auto | Diesel | 1,487 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 95.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2021 | 89.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 88.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 88.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
6 earlier years
| 2018 | 86.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 84.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 83.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 83.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 81.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 80.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all Clas tested had between 20,453 and 37,719 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 33,151 median miles, the Cla has 0.044 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Cla MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Cla has a 85.4% MOT pass rate based on 107,521 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Cla?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Cla is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 2,582 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Mercedes-Benz Clas are on UK roads?
There are 102,497 Mercedes-Benz Clas currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,113 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Cla at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Cla is 33,151 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 20,453 and 37,719 miles.
Buying a used Cla?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.