MOT fail rates by first-use year
2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz CLS cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,483 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 18 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 18 years old, Mercedes-Benz CLS cars first used in 2007 failed 32.0% of MOTs (1,458 tests), 11.2 points below the 43.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 32.9% to 32.0%.
- Mercedes-Benz CLS cars first used a year earlier, in 2006, failed 31.7% at the same age of 18 years (1,406 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz CLS at 18 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 5.0 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.4).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 15 years | 32.9% | 2,275 | 41.6% | −8.7 pts |
| 2023 | 16 years | 32.7% | 1,999 | 42.6% | −9.9 pts |
| 2024 | 17 years | 34.2% | 1,751 | 43.1% | −8.9 pts |
| 2025 | 18 years | 32.0% | 1,458 | 43.3% | −11.2 pts |
Most common faults at 18 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2005 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,938). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn | 5.0 | 2.4 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 3.1 | 1.7 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Coil spring broken | 2.2 | 3.1 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| Suspension arm ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 1.7 | 1.0 |
| Handbrake too weak | 1.7 | 2.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,938). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 19.4 | 17.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 18.8 | 12.3 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 13.7 | 12.6 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.3 | 11.1 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 8.4 | 2.6 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.5 | 6.4 |
| Wheel bearings: has slight play | 7.0 | 1.3 |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | 6.8 | 1.8 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 6.5 | 8.5 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 5.4 | 3.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,938). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 18 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2005 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,938). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62.8% | 33.3% | 2,472 | 43.6% | 124,198 miles |
| Petrol | 37.2% | 26.4% | 1,464 | 43.2% | 96,996 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2007 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2007 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Mercedes-Benz CLS
Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2007
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 37.9% | 11,524 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 42.0% | 5,325 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 28.7% | 4,753 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 39.2% | 3,417 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 32.4% | 3,417 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 43.7% | 2,266 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz M-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 32.3% | 1,745 | 43.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 23.9% | 1,142 | 43.3% |
More on the Mercedes-Benz CLS
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.