Mercedes-benz Cla Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Cla car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Cla reliable? We analysed 441,092 real MOT tests across 69,789 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Cla? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Cla is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Cla.
Mercedes-benz Cla Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Cla. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Cla MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Cla to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Cla Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz Cla models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Mercedes-benz Cla Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Cla owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Cla MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Cla year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,279 | 89.6% | 19,846 | 30,180 | 44,094 |
| 2022 | 10,295 | 88.9% | 19,690 | 27,446 | 37,705 |
| 2021 | 17,391 | 87.5% | 22,333 | 31,799 | 43,877 |
| 2020 | 20,433 | 86.1% | 23,162 | 34,166 | 48,008 |
| 2019 | 41,173 | 86.2% | 24,308 | 35,507 | 49,581 |
| 2018 | 54,987 | 85.1% | 28,205 | 41,560 | 58,315 |
| 2017 | 67,137 | 84.8% | 33,304 | 49,618 | 69,277 |
| 2016 | 70,764 | 83.8% | 37,280 | 55,294 | 76,856 |
| 2015 | 72,124 | 83.3% | 39,646 | 59,420 | 82,862 |
| 2014 | 52,290 | 82.8% | 41,581 | 63,278 | 87,923 |
| 2013 | 28,845 | 81.2% | 42,856 | 64,873 | 89,818 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Cla Last?
Based on 69,789 Mercedes-benz Cla vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Cla Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Cla MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Cla
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 1,279 tests
81.2% MOT pass rate from 28,845 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Cla is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 1,279 tests. The 2013 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mercedes-benz Cla Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Cla THIS CAR | 84.3% | 441,092 | 48,728 mi | 13 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz C | 77.6% | 8,031,355 | 77,082 mi | 32 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz E | 79.4% | 4,722,746 | 83,960 mi | 33 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz A-class | 77.6% | 4,204,702 | 57,023 mi | 28 yrs |
| Rover 414 | 66.5% | 376,618 | 76,954 mi | 35 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Cla outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Cla you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz ClaShould you buy a used Mercedes-benz Cla?
The Mercedes-benz Cla has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 441,092 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes-benz Cla with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Mercedes-benz Cla owner drives around 7,467 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz Cla models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.