Does the Mercedes-Benz CLC fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz CLC records 27.85 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 28.38 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.53, 95% interval −1.02 to −0.03). It ranks 311 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 CLC by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CLC is “Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements”, recorded 1,820 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 1,820 | 4.13 |
| Stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning | 1,371 | 3.11 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,300 | 2.95 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,124 | 2.55 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,020 | 2.32 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 44,029 (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 CLC gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
25.6% of Mercedes-Benz CLC 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 5,246 miles later (2,061 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,061 (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 CLC 2008 · Mercedes-Benz CLC 2009 · Mercedes-Benz CLC 2010 · Mercedes-Benz CLC 2011 · Mercedes-Benz CLC by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz CLC body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC steering failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz CLC visibility failures