2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 71.9% of Mercedes-Benz CLAs first used in 2014 passed their MOT first time, against 68.6% for all cars first used in 2014. Across 13,065 CLA first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, suspension and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz CLAs first used in 2014 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
71.9%
of 4,274 first tests; all cars first used in 2014: 68.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
13,065
first tests, 2023–2025; 4,274 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
40.2%
of 4,274 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
92,000
middle half: 73,000–114,000 miles; all cars first used in 2014: 80,500

How the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, CLAs first used in 2014 against all cars first used in 2014 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the CLA figure was 3.3 points higher.

2014 CLAAll cars first used in 2014
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2014, test year 2021: 76.3%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2022: 74.1%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2023: 71.7%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2024: 69.9%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2025: 68.6%2014 CLA, test year 2021: 79.8%2014 CLA, test year 2022: 79.5%2014 CLA, test year 2023: 76.2%2014 CLA, test year 2024: 73.2%2014 CLA, test year 2025: 71.9%71.9%68.6%
View this chart as a table
Test year2014 CLAAll cars first used 2014CLA first tests
202179.8%76.3%4,506
202279.5%74.1%4,475
202376.2%71.7%4,442
202473.2%69.9%4,349
202571.9%68.6%4,274

Common 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT failures

Share of the 3,424 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres36.1%
Suspension31.5%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment23.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks16.6%
Brakes14.1%
Visibility14.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems9.2%
Road Wheels4.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken15.1%518
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm11.1%381
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.9%339
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed9.7%331
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault8.4%288

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a CLA in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2014 CLAs, as a share of all 13,065 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge17.9%2,334
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.8%1,411
Brake pads: wearing thin8.2%1,070
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5.8%764
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively4.3%557

Questions about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA?

In 2025, 71.9% of CLAs first used in 2014 passed their MOT first time, against 68.6% for all cars first used in 2014. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2014 CLA most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 36.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (31.5%) and lamps and electrical equipment (23.0%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (15.1%).

How often does a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA fail its MOT?

In 2025, 28.1% of first tests on CLAs first used in 2014 did not pass first time: 23.3% failed, and a further 4.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,424 of 13,065 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.2%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (5.8%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (4.3%).

Is a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 79.8% in 2021 to 71.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2014

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2014 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2014 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2014 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2014 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2014 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2014 CLA” means a Mercedes-Benz CLA whose date of first use falls in 2014 (63, 14 and 64 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2014, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.