2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT pass rate: 76.8% (3,312 tests)
Is the 2012 CLS getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 77.5% +5.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 76.3% +5.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 76.6% +6.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 CLS
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 480 | 28.1% |
| 2 | Suspension | 433 | 25.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 431 | 25.2% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 104 | 6.1% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 98 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Visibility | 44 | 2.6% |
All CLS years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,789 | 76.1% | +11.6 pts | 104,734 |
| 2006 | 4,152 | 73.9% | +9.4 pts | 117,940 |
| 2007 | 5,062 | 72.2% | +7.1 pts | 119,870 |
| 2008 | 4,020 | 71.9% | +6.7 pts | 119,584 |
| 2009 | 3,249 | 69.3% | +2.9 pts | 111,070 |
| 2010 | 3,175 | 70.5% | +3.1 pts | 109,564 |
| 2011 | 3,480 | 77.1% | +7.9 pts | 98,474 |
| 2012 (this page) | 3,312 | 76.8% | +5.6 pts | 95,192 |
| 2013 | 9,119 | 75.8% | +2.5 pts | 93,640 |
| 2014 | 5,329 | 77.6% | +1.7 pts | 83,360 |
| 2015 | 8,599 | 82.2% | +3.5 pts | 77,897 |
| 2016 | 6,264 | 82.2% | +0.9 pts | 66,704 |
| 2017 | 4,439 | 83.3% | -0.8 pts | 55,712 |
| 2018 | 2,877 | 83.9% | -2.4 pts | 46,578 |
| 2019 | 3,212 | 84.1% | -4.3 pts | 39,081 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mercedes-Benz CLS years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 76.8% of their MOT tests (3,312 tests, 2023–2025), +5.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 95,192 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 CLS?
The median tested example shows 95,192 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.