MOT pass rates / Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CL 500 MOT pass rate and common failures

Of 1,609 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 77.8% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 82.9% of cars aged 10–14 years passed first time, against 77.1% aged 15–30 years.

Pass rate by vehicle age

Common initial failure categories

These are the items that most often caused a Mercedes-Benz CL 500 to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.

• Suspension Arms — 4% of tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
• Condition — 3.9% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
• Brake Performance — 3.4% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
• Exhaust Emissions — 2.6% of tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
• Direction Indicators — 2.6% of tests. An indicator fault, usually a bulb or relay.
• Shock Absorbers — 2.3% of tests. Leaking or worn dampers. Replaced in pairs and noticeable in how the car rides.

What this does and does not tell you

A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.

Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.

Before you buy

• Suspension Arms — 4% of tests in 2024. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
• Condition — 3.9% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
• Brake Performance — 3.4% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
• Exhaust Emissions — 2.6% of tests in 2024. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
• Check the actual CL 500 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

• Mercedes-Benz C — 74.4% pass
• Mercedes-Benz A-class — 74.6% pass
• Mercedes-Benz E — 76.9% pass
• Mercedes-Benz A — 87.8% pass
• Mercedes-Benz Vito — 66.8% pass
• Mercedes-Benz GLC — 86.5% pass

See every Mercedes-Benz model MOT pass rate

Common questions

What is the Mercedes-Benz CL 500 MOT pass rate?

77.8% of 1,609 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz CL 500 passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.

Why does the CL 500 fail its MOT?

The most common initial failure categories are suspension arms (4% of tests), condition (3.9% of tests), brake performance (3.4% of tests), exhaust emissions (2.6% of tests).

Does this tell me whether one particular CL 500 is a good buy?

No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.

Methodology and limitations

MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.

Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.

Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.