Luxury car · 1996–2021 cars
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class reliability
The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class fails 20.8% of first MOT tests, 47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 12,416 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 20.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 47% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 12,416
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class ages
Each point is the share of Mercedes-Benz CL-Classs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Mercedes-Benz CL-Class | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 16.8% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 19.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 21.4% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 19% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 18.5% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 20.1% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 18.1% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 19.1% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 17.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 21.4% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 23.8% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 22.5% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 25.2% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 21.1% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 23.7% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 32% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 21.7% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Mercedes-Benz CL-Class years
2007 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 376 | 13.6% | 48% fewer fails | 60,169 |
| 2013 | 449 | 18.7% | 35% fewer fails | 64,197 |
| 2012 | 408 | 18.6% | 40% fewer fails | 67,448 |
| 2011 | 478 | 18.6% | 45% fewer fails | 71,677 |
| 2010 | 642 | 19.5% | 46% fewer fails | 76,893 |
| 2009 | 818 | 20% | 48% fewer fails | 81,599 |
| 2008 | 920 | 20.1% | 50% fewer fails | 86,267 |
| 2007 CL-Class | 1,770 | 16.8% | 59% fewer fails | 87,881 |
| 2006 | 313 | 18.2% | 56% fewer fails | 92,243 |
| 2005 | 705 | 21.7% | 49% fewer fails | 93,704 |
| 2004 | 870 | 20.7% | 51% fewer fails | 92,447 |
| 2003 CL-Class | 1,108 | 23.6% | 45% fewer fails | 100,092 |
| 2002 CL-Class | 1,507 | 23.8% | 44% fewer fails | 105,110 |
| 2001 | 854 | 22.6% | 46% fewer fails | 106,949 |
| 2000 | 703 | 27.6% | 32% fewer fails | 106,787 |
| 1998 | 217 | 24% | 35% fewer fails | 102,258 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension6.7%54% below avg
- Brakes6.4%42% below avg
- Lights and electrics6.4%65% below avg
- Tyres4.8%24% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.6%61% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.4%59% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.5%79% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.3%44% below avg
- Steering1%69% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 1.68% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.28% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Position lamp not working 1.25% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.19% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 1.14% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
- 6
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.13% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 7
ABS warning lamp shows a fault 1.01% of tests
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 8
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 0.97% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.45%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.12%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.54%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.78%
- Shock absorber light oil misting4.53%
- Suspension ball joint slight play4.32%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
- 1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Mercedes-Benz CL-Class covers about 6,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol99.4%
- Diesel0.3%
- LPG0.3%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, White
Average engine size: 5.1 litres.
Compare
How the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Bentley Arnage | 11.8% | 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus LS | 18.9% | 53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CL-Class | 20.8% | 47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XJR | 23.6% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Maserati Ghibli | 14.6% | 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW 8 Series | 10.9% | 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jeep 300 | 34.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every luxury car ranked in the luxury car reliability index, or all Mercedes-Benz models.
Questions
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class questions, answered
Is the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class reliable?
On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is better than average: it fails 20.8% of first MOT tests, 47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 7 of 14 luxury car models in our index.
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class are suspension ball joint excessively worn (1.68% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.28% of tests), position lamp not working (1.25% of tests). By area, suspension fails 6.7% of its tests.
Which Mercedes-Benz CL-Class year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class do a year?
A typical Mercedes-Benz CL-Class covers about 6,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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