Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA records 2.64 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.30 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.66, 95% interval −2.75 to −2.58). It ranks 432 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 CLA by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CLA is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 1,429 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,429 | 0.55 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 1,274 | 0.49 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,071 | 0.41 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 346 | 0.13 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 285 | 0.11 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 260,294 (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
If a Mercedes-Benz CLA gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.1% of Mercedes-Benz CLA MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 9,604 miles later (691 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 691 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz CLA 2013 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2014 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2015 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2016 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2017 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2018 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2019 · Mercedes-Benz CLA 2020 · Mercedes-Benz CLA in Norway · Mercedes-Benz CLA in Finland · Mercedes-Benz CLA in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz CLA by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz CLA body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA steering failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz CLA visibility failures