Used car guide

2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLSs, from 2,870 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,870MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
8,600typical miles a year
5.3×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLSs than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Wheel bearings5.3× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLS
    4.2% All 2015 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.3% of all 2015 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.

  • Link ball joint covers4.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLS
    4.1% All 2015 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.5% of all 2015 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.

  • Wheels2.3× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLS
    2.8% All 2015 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.4% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Engine warning light2.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz CLS
    3.3% All 2015 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.6% of all 2015 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.9% here, against 7.1% of all 2015 cars. Shock absorbers: 0.9% here, against 5.2% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    30% 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
    22% 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.

  • Suspension
    14% 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
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    3% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLS?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20191,078Tyres 24%
2018947Tyres 26%
20171,469Tyres 31%
20162,088Tyres 31%
20141,729Brakes 36%
20132,980Brakes 40%
20121,067Brakes 37%
20111,108Brakes 36%
2010981Brakes 37%
2009952Brakes 39%
20081,165Brakes 39%
20071,437Brakes 42%
20061,142Brakes 40%
2005824Brakes 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLSs registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score