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 85,458 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

85,458MOTs done in 2023–2025, 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, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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 2.6× 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

    up to 5.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 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 bushes and joints

    up to 3.2× usual

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

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.8× usual

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

    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.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 2.7× usual

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

    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.

Diesel

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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 3.4× 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 9.4× 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 4.2× usual

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

    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.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 9.3× usual

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

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 5.4× usual

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

    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.

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 (61% passed first time, 5 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2009 did worst (60%, 1 point 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
201063%60% +3190 (small sample)
200960%59% +18,686
200861%57% +47,848
200760%57% +311,119
200661%56% +59,698
200561%57% +411,839
200461%57% +411,851
200363%57% +68,824
200265%58% +74,862
200168%60% +84,042
200070%61% +93,319
199967%63% +42,494
199864%65% -1686

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 3.6× 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 4.7× 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 2023–2025, 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