Does the Mercedes-Benz CL fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The Mercedes-Benz CL records 12.54 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 33.35 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−20.81, 95% interval −21.72 to −19.90). It ranks 706 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz CL by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CL is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 301 times in 2019–2024.

Mercedes-Benz CL: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources	301	1.95
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	262	1.70
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	217	1.41
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	200	1.30
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements	142	0.92

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 15,400 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Does the Mercedes-Benz CL fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

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