Does the Mercedes-Benz CLS fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS records 10.57 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 11.71 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.14, 95% interval −1.32 to −0.96). It ranks 404 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mercedes-Benz CLS by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CLS is “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded”, recorded 5,666 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 5,666 | 4.05 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,807 | 1.29 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1,294 | 0.92 |
| Parking brake inoperative on one side | 582 | 0.42 |
| Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 492 | 0.35 |
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 brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.0% of Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,778 miles later (25,034 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 25,034 (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 body, chassis and structure 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