Used car guide · 1997–2010

Mercedes-Benz CLK common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz CLK, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 25,009 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

25,009MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
30,945on the UK register
2006best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997

What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz CLK?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mercedes-Benz CLK in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mercedes-Benz CLK MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

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

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

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Anti-roll bar

    up to 5.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Mercedes-Benz CLK MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK did best (62% passed first time, 5 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2009 did worst (61%, 3 points above all 2009 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200961%58% +32,745
200861%57% +42,454
200761%57% +43,399
200662%57% +52,832
200562%58% +43,419
200463%58% +53,442
200366%59% +72,433
200266%60% +61,331
200169%61% +81,121
200071%63% +8949
199968%65% +3698
199866%66% +0186 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mercedes-Benz CLK

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the Mercedes-Benz CLK as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Mercedes-Benz CLK as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the Mercedes-Benz CLK as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLK?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score