Mercedes-Benz CLA Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 84% MOT pass rate
  • 2,381 CLAs checked
  • 24.3% of Mercedes-Benzs had outstanding finance

Mercedes-Benz CLA reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Mercedes-Benz CLA history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Mercedes-Benz CLA car check:

Of the 334 Mercedes-Benz vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 24.3% had outstanding finance recorded, 11.1% an insurance write-off record and 45.5% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a CLA by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 1,366 Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 84%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,900typical miles a year
  • 2.7%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 7,601MOT tests analysed
  • 2015–2020built (middle half)
  • 55%petrol; 39% diesel; 6% hybrid electric (clean)

Mercedes-Benz CLA common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Mercedes-Benz CLA, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the CLA's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 14 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  2. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5%
  3. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.5%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.2%
  5. Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault1.0%
  6. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%
  7. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
  8. Coil spring fractured or broken0.9%
  9. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.8%
  10. Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.7%
Show all 14
  1. Headlamp aim too low0.7%
  2. Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.7%
  3. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.6%
  4. Brake pad worn down to wear indicator0.5%

Top 13 Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.4%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin7.0%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.8%
  4. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.3%
  5. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.4%
  6. Brake disc worn, but not excessively2.0%
  7. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.8%
  8. Nail in tyre1.5%
  9. Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
  10. Road wheel slightly distorted1.2%
Show all 13
  1. Suspension arm ball joint has slight play0.6%
  2. Under trays fitted0.5%
  3. COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION0.5%
  • Tyres: 49% of failed tests
  • Lights and indicators: 28% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 16% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 13% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 12% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 26% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 15% of tests
  • Windscreen and wipers advisory: 4% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 1,366 Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since April 2023 (7,601 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Mercedes-Benz CLA versions

Every Mercedes-Benz CLA version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "CLA" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
CLA (no version recorded) 1,200 84% Tyres
CLA 250
  • CLA 250 AMG Line Premium E A: 46
  • CLA 250 AMG Line Premium + E A: 20
  • CLA 250 AMG LN PRM+ NGT ED E A: 10
 76 – –
CLA 220
  • CLA 220 AMG Line Premium + D A: 39
  • CLA 220 AMG Line Premium D A: 22
  • CLA 220 AMG Line D Auto: 6
  • and 4 more
 71 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLA

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Mercedes-Benz on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the CLA. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Mercedes-Benz CLA

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Mercedes-Benz CLA car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Mercedes-Benz CLA you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a CLA by reg → See a sample report

Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT questions

How do I check a used Mercedes-Benz CLA for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 334 Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 24.3% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.1% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Mercedes-Benz CLA car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Mercedes-Benz CLA are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.2% of the Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT tests we analysed. By area, tyres items appear in 49% of failed tests.

What is the Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT pass rate?

84% of 7,601 MOT tests on 1,366 Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Going by its MOT records, the Mercedes-Benz CLA's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.2% of tests); engine mil inoperative or indicates a malfunction (1.5% of tests); tyre has ply or cords exposed (1.5% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 11.4% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Mercedes-Benz CLA typically driven?

About 8,900 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 2.7% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Mercedes-Benz car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLA