Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz CLA reliability and common faults
Based on 108,588 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
17.1%
fail rate · average 16.4%
worse than average
64,152 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
35.7%
with defects · average 39.3%
better than average
21,351 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
61.0%
first-time pass · average 57.1%
better than average
23,085 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Mercedes-Benz CLA
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheels
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identification
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Brakes
Suspension
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Body and structure
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 9Tyre pressure monitoring system warning indicator is on
- 10Brake lining carrier/fastener touching drum/disc
- 11Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 12Low beam / high beam doesn't work (properly)
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.7% avg 9.9% | 26.6% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 17.0% avg 15.3% | 34.9% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 22.1% avg 22.9% | 38.6% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 25.1% avg 30.3% | 45.4% avg 55.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | CLA | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 75.0% | 78.6% | 40 |
| 2019 | 78.5% | 83.2% | 283 |
| 2018 | 70.6% | 79.5% | 496 |
| 2017 | 73.4% | 76.6% | 820 |
| 2016 | 73.3% | 72.8% | 1,163 |
| 2015 | 73.7% | 71.1% | 1,248 |
| 2014 | 74.3% | 68.0% | 1,529 |
| 2013 | 72.8% | 65.9% | 987 |
| 2012 | 66.8% | 63.7% | 1,149 |
| 2011 | 62.1% | 61.2% | 1,178 |
| 2010 | 60.9% | 57.3% | 1,381 |
| 2009 | 57.2% | 54.5% | 1,777 |
| 2008 | 55.8% | 52.4% | 1,610 |
| 2007 | 54.7% | 50.6% | 2,389 |
| 2006 | 57.0% | 48.7% | 2,209 |
Mercedes-Benz CLA – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz CLA?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz CLA fails 17.1% of MOT tests, against an average of 16.4% for cars of the same age – worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 35.7% of APK inspections (average there 39.3%) – better than average. In Lithuania 61.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 57.1%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz CLA?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, seat belts and airbags, tyres, exhaust and emissions.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLA?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Mercedes-Benz models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).