Mercedes Benz
Clc
17,645 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Clcs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.9 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
68.6%
Pass-after-fix
4.7%
Fail
26.0%
Avg miles
101,320
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Mercedes Benz Clc: challenging MOT record across 12,386 tests
The Mercedes Benz Clc is a petrol-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 12,386 tests puts this car on a 65.8% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 97,062 miles. The most common fail item is worn suspension pin or bush, followed by fractured or weakened suspension spring.
The Clc's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 28–46
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–46
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
1,267 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 02
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
851 occurrences · 4.8% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
574 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 04
Stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
525 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 05
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
473 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 06
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
437 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 07
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
430 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 08
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
387 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 09
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
342 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
338 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 5 failures
£308–£850
If every one of this Clc's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
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Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
4 UK recalls on record.
The Clc has 4 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Clc?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Clc and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.