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Mercedes-benz Clk Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz Clk car check

Is the Mercedes-benz Clk reliable? We analysed 1,410,029 real MOT tests across 83,874 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,410,029 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.7%
Typical Mileage
80,545mi
Annual Mileage
4,986mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Mercedes-benz Clk is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken and suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Clk.

Mercedes-benz Clk Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Clk. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz Clk MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz Clk to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.5%
2012
80.5%
2011
75.9%
2010
75.8%
2009
75.5%
2008
75.1%
2007
75.4%
2006
74.4%
2005
73.7%
2004
74.1%
2003
74.4%
2002
75.1%
2001
75.6%
2000
74.5%
1999
73.4%
1998
72.4%
1997

Mercedes-benz Clk Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz Clk fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59,319
coil spring broken 19,719
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 16,744
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,943
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14,136
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 13,577
Brake pipe excessively corroded 13,192
position lamp(s) not working 11,996
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 11,801

Mercedes-benz Clk Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz Clk models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 11,734

Mercedes-benz Clk Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Clk owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,628 mi/yr
Typical
4,986 mi/yr
Average
6,208 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,234 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz Clk MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Clk year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 181 78.5% 33,128 52,645 72,625
2011 287 80.5% 32,394 49,136 68,234
2010 1,289 75.9% 39,597 59,665 87,746
2009 61,225 75.8% 42,892 66,318 93,625
2008 62,934 75.5% 44,376 69,962 100,216
2007 102,118 75.1% 45,670 71,984 102,594
2006 107,060 75.4% 46,932 73,393 104,306
2005 155,682 74.4% 48,629 75,364 105,787
2004 179,283 73.7% 48,958 75,635 105,508
2003 175,867 74.1% 50,562 77,480 107,306
2002 128,329 74.4% 55,866 81,742 109,869
2001 134,123 75.1% 61,933 86,559 113,577
2000 133,426 75.6% 65,872 90,612 117,285
1999 111,081 74.5% 69,678 93,846 120,011
1998 46,296 73.4% 73,759 97,549 122,713
1997 8,753 72.4% 80,630 105,377 131,450

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Clk Last?

Based on 83,874 Mercedes-benz Clk vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.1 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Mercedes-benz Clk Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Clk MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
80,545 mi
75th Percentile
109,664 mi
95th Percentile
156,627 mi
Max Recorded
999,999 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Clk

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

80.5% MOT pass rate from 287 tests

Year to avoid
1997

72.4% MOT pass rate from 8,753 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Clk is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.5% across 287 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.4% — 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 Clk Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz Clk THIS CAR 74.7% 1,410,029 80,545 mi 28 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
Jaguar S-type 74.5% 942,176 77,805 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Clk trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz Clk?

The Mercedes-benz Clk has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.7% across 1,410,029 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz Clk are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (59,319 recorded failures), coil spring broken (19,719), and suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (16,744). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

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 Clk 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 Clk owner drives around 4,986 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 Clk models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. 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.

Mercedes-benz Clk — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz Clk reliable?
Based on 1,410,029 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz Clk has a 74.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz Clk?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken, and suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz Clk do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz Clk does around 4,986 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz Clk last?
Most Mercedes-benz Clk models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 83,874 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz Clk?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz Clk?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Clk is 2011 with a 80.5% pass rate across 287 tests.