Mercedes-Benz Clk
From 54,883 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Clks fare better: 2010 models pass at 77.9% vs 68.2% for 1998.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 4,601 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4,601 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,234 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,834 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,464 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 1,270 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,216 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,154 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 841 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 787 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 723 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.7% of Clk failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43.6% 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 £132.
Mercedes-Benz Clk on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 3,013 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 6 newly registered, a net loss of 3,007. At this rate, roughly 10.4 years until none remain. Now at 43.7% of its peak (71,816 in 2009 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 20,885 | 10,502 | +2 | -593 | -591 |
| 2025 Q2 | 21,586 | 10,392 | +0 | -669 | -669 |
| 2025 Q1 | 21,632 | 11,015 | +1 | -751 | -750 |
| 2024 Q4 | 22,365 | 11,032 | +3 | -1,000 | -997 |
| 2024 Q3 | 23,880 | 10,514 | +0 | -713 | -713 |
| 2024 Q2 | 24,822 | 10,285 | +1 | -418 | -417 |
| 2024 Q1 | 24,947 | 10,577 | +1 | -1,084 | -1,083 |
| 2023 Q4 | 25,891 | 10,716 | +2 | -736 | -734 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clk 320 Elegance Auto | Gas | 1,652 | 10% |
| Clk 200K Sport A | Petrol | 1,569 | 10% |
| Clk 320 Avantgarde Auto | Petrol | 1,492 | 9% |
| Clk220 Cdi Avantgarde A | Diesel | 1,260 | 8% |
| Clk280 Sport Auto | Gas | 1,194 | 7% |
| Clk220 Cdi Sport Auto | Diesel | 989 | 6% |
| Clk 200K Avantgarde A | Petrol | 915 | 6% |
| Clk 240 Avantgarde Auto | Petrol | 911 | 6% |
| Clk200 K Avantgarde Auto | Petrol | 898 | 6% |
| Clk 240 Elegance Auto | Petrol | 746 | 5% |
| Clk280 Avantgarde Auto | Petrol | 724 | 5% |
| Clk280 Elegance Auto | Petrol | 491 | 3% |
| Clk350 Sport Auto | Diesel | 490 | 3% |
| Clk320 Avantgarde Auto | Gas | 456 | 3% |
| Clk320 Cdi Sport Auto | Diesel | 445 | 3% |
| Clk 230 Elegance Komp Auto | Gas | 394 | 2% |
| Clk 200 Avantgarde Komp A | Petrol | 382 | 2% |
| Clk350 Avantgarde Auto | Petrol | 347 | 2% |
| Clk200 K Elegance Auto | Petrol | 345 | 2% |
| Clk270 Cdi Avan'De A | Diesel | 322 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 74% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 72.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
10 earlier years
| 2006 | 71.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2005 | 71.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 71.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2003 | 73.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2002 | 73.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2001 | 72.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 78.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 1999 | 73.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1998 | 68.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1997 | 70.7% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Clks tested had between 89,053 and 135,697 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 106,214 median miles, the Clk has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Clk MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Clk has a 72.7% MOT pass rate based on 54,883 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Clk?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Clk is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 4,601 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Mercedes-Benz Clks are on UK roads?
There are 20,885 Mercedes-Benz Clks currently licensed on UK roads, with 10,502 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Clk at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Clk is 106,214 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 89,053 and 135,697 miles.
Buying a used Clk?
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.
With a 72.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £132 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.