Mercedes-Benz CL 2001: MOT failure rate for its age
27.0% of 588 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz CL first registered in 2001 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 113.1 (95% CI 95.5–130.7; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2001 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 27.0 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 588 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 95.5–130.7) | 113.1 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 588 |
| Rank among this model's 9 build years | 8 | of 9 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 588 |
| Tested in 2024 | 188 | tests | median 106,998 miles | 2024 | 188 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL fail at each age?
Cars built in 2001 were tested at ages 18 to 22 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 37 (rough estimate) | 37.8 | 24.1–53.9 | not available | not available |
| 20 | 321 (rough estimate) | 26.2 | 21.7–31.2 | 23.9 | 109.4 |
| 21 | 267 (rough estimate) | 28.1 | 23–33.8 | 23.9 | 117.6 |
| 22 | 243 (rough estimate) | 25.9 | 20.8–31.8 | not available | not available |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 868 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2001 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 22.8 items per 100 first tests, against 12.5 across all build years of the Mercedes-Benz CL. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2001 were tested at ages 18 to 22.
| Failure group | Built 2001, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.8 | 12.5 | 247 |
| Suspension | 19.7 | 14.4 | 213 |
| Brakes | 12 | 12.8 | 130 |
| Tyres | 8.9 | 7.6 | 96 |
| Visibility | 8.3 | 7.3 | 90 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,082 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2001 compare with the years around it?
Among the 9 published build years of the Mercedes-Benz CL, 2001 ranks 8 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 104.9.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 113.1 | 95.5–130.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 588 |
| 2002 | 104.9 | 94.4–115.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,440 |
| 2003 | 100.1 | 88.1–112.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,085 |
| 2004 | 94.1 | 79.5–108.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 738 |
| 2005 | 108.1 | 90.3–125.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 639 |
| 2006 | 140.1 | 106.6–173.7 | worse (rough estimate) | 257 |
| 2007 | 102.3 | 92.0–112.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,897 |
| 2008 | 112.8 | 95.4–130.3 | no different (rough estimate) | 710 |
| 2009 | 105.6 | 83.9–127.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 403 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,757 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Mercedes-Benz CL 2001 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mercedes-cl/2001/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz CL 2002 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2003 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2004 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2005 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2006 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2007 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2008 · Mercedes-Benz CL 2009 · Mercedes-Benz CL by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz CL body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz CL brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz CL vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz CL lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz CL noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz CL road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz CL seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz CL steering failures · Mercedes-Benz CL suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz CL tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz CL visibility failures