Used car guide

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLCs, from 548 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

548MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
6,100typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLCs than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Ball joint2.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLC
    17% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.6%, against 3.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLC
    15.7% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Individual direction indicators2.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLC
    8% All 2011 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wheel bearings3.3× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLC
    6% All 2011 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.7% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

By area

The share of 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLC MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLC?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20102,366Suspension 51%
20093,015Suspension 53%
20082,001Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLCs registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score