Does the Mercedes-Benz CLS fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS records 1.10 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.41 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.31, 95% interval −4.43 to −4.19). It ranks 526 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Mercedes-Benz CLS by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CLS is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 592 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 592 | 0.42 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 176 | 0.13 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 174 | 0.12 |
| Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire | 158 | 0.11 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 73 | 0.05 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 139,937 (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 CLS gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
2.9% of Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,891 miles later (2,480 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,480 (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 CLS 2005 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2006 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2007 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2008 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2009 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2010 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2011 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2012 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2013 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2014 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2015 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2016 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2017 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2018 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2019 · Mercedes-Benz CLS 2020 · Mercedes-Benz CLS in Finland · Mercedes-Benz CLS in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz CLS by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz CLS brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS steering failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS visibility failures