MOT performance
Mercedes-Benz CLK diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 12,057 MOT tests on diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs in 2023–2024 (on average 16.4 years old at test, median 123,947 miles), 56.8% passed first time, against 63.4% of 48,805 petrol Mercedes-Benz CLK tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs failed about as often as comparable cars — 1.00× against 0.88× for the Mercedes-Benz CLK as a whole.
12,057 MOT tests on 6,516 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 56.8% | ±0.9 pts (95%), n = 12,057 |
| All Mercedes-Benz CLKs | 62.1% | n = 60,862 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.00× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Mercedes-Benz CLK overall 0.88× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 12.9% | n = 12,057 |
| Average age at test | 16.4 years | n = 12,057 |
| Registration years covered | 1998–2014 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Mercedes-Benz CLK fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel). The diesel cars were tested 2.1 years younger on average than the petrol ones, so the raw pass rates partly reflect age; the adjusted column doesn't.
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 48,805 | 18.5 yrs | 63.4% | -15% | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 12,057 | 16.4 yrs | 56.8% | Same | 12.9% |
Where diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs differ
- Noise, emissions and leaks: diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs failed 60% more often than the Mercedes-Benz CLK overall, relative to comparable cars (1.06× vs 0.66×).
- Seat belts and airbags: diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs failed 51% less often than the Mercedes-Benz CLK overall, relative to comparable cars (0.48× vs 0.98×).
- Brakes: diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs failed 27% more often than the Mercedes-Benz CLK overall, relative to comparable cars (1.05× vs 0.82×).
- Suspension: diesel Mercedes-Benz CLKs failed 21% more often than the Mercedes-Benz CLK overall, relative to comparable cars (1.36× vs 1.13×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Mercedes-Benz CLKs (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 25.3% (+36%) | 18.6% (+13%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 15.1% (-26%) | 14.3% (-31%) |
| Brakes | 14.5% (+5%) | 10.4% (-18%) |
| Tyres | 9.5% (+27%) | 7.8% (+13%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.9% (-13%) | 5.4% (-26%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.3% (+6%) | 5.0% (-34%) |
| Steering | 4.4% (-2%) | 3.0% (-17%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.4% (-63%) | 2.7% (-68%) |
| Road wheels | 1.6% (+151%) | 1.1% (+124%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.4% (-52%) | 2.6% (-2%) |
Most common diesel Mercedes-Benz CLK failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 10.62% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 8.34% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 4.46% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.09% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 3.78% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 13-15 | 57.0% (4,266) | 62.7% (8,054) |
| 16+ | 56.6% (7,768) | 63.5% (40,681) |
Mercedes-Benz CLK by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 69.4%
- 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 67.6%
- 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 64.6%
- 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 62.7%
- 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 60.8%
- 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 61.2%
- 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 60.5%
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 60.2%
- 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 61.2%
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK · 60.5%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Mercedes-Benz CLK
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.