Does the Mercedes-Benz CLS fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS records 1.63 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.84 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.21, 95% interval −1.30 to −1.12). It ranks 388 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Mercedes-Benz CLS by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz CLS is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 1,431 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 1,431 | 1.02 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 286 | 0.20 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 267 | 0.19 |
| A steering ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment | 73 | 0.05 |
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 67 | 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 steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.9% of Mercedes-Benz CLS MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 6,487 miles later (1,303 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,303 (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 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 suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz CLS visibility failures