Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Registered from 2011 to 2025.
About this model
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is a series of luxury subcompact executive cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 2013. The first generation was a four-door sedan based on the platform of the W176 A-Class and W246 B-Class compact cars, marketed as a four-door coupé. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz expanded the CLA family to include a station wagon configuration which it markets as a Shooting Brake.
From the Wikipedia article Mercedes-Benz CLA, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2016 2.1 diesel. 1,062 of 6,691 tests failed, 16%.
Better than 29% of 2016 cars. The typical one fails 13%, across 899 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 55% | 587 |
| Suspension | 24% | 251 |
| Brakes | 17% | 184 |
| Visibility | 13% | 133 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 9% | 97 |
| Lights and electrics | 8% | 88 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 55% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Suspension — 24% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brakes — 17% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Exhaust and emissions — 9% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 8% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Visibility — 13% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 19% of its inspections, about what an ordinary car of the same age does.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 3% | 6% | 37 | |
| 20–40k miles | 10% | 10% | 562 | |
| 40–60k miles | 15% | 13% | 1,959 | |
| 60–80k miles | 16% | 16% | 2,177 | |
| 80–100k miles | 18% | 18% | 1,150 | |
| 100–120k miles | 19% | 19% | 497 | |
| 120–140k miles | 24% | 19% | 200 | |
| 140–160k miles | 19% | 19% | 78 |
6,660 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.3 petrol · 161 hp · 1500 kg · 2729 mm wheelbase · 6.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.3 petrol · 161 hp · 1433 kg · 2729 mm wheelbase · 6.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.3 petrol · 161 hp · 1426 kg · 2729 mm wheelbase · 6.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.6 petrol · 154 hp · 1438 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 2.1 diesel · 176 hp · 1600 kg · 2690 mm wheelbase · 4.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.1 diesel · 173 hp · 1601 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 4.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.1 diesel · 173 hp · 1541 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 2.1 diesel · 167 hp · 1525 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 4.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 2.1 diesel · 167 hp · 1525 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00017/22
A trapped particle may damage the sealing between the fuel rail and fuel injector, which could cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment. Consequently, leaking fuel may come into contact with hot parts of the engine, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00149/22
The connection of the power supply to the electrical power steering may have been contaminated by heat-activated adhesive.Ageing of this adhesive could lead to a loss of clamping force and thus to a loose connection that may lead to interruption of the power supply. As a result, the electrical power steering could fail spontaneously, even while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00531/22
Improper torque of the screws on the brake caliper housing can cause the screw connections to become loose. As a result, the braking performance would be reduced and components of the brake caliper may be lost, increasing the risk of accidents. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00940/24
The steering software may not correctly activate the fallback level in the event of a hardware failure. This could affect the power steering assistance and lead to the loss of steering capacity, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Update of the electric steering software
A12/01223/23
The tyres may not meet specifications, which can cause a sudden loss of air pressure. This can affect the stability of the vehicle while driving, creating a risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01428/23
The fitted tyres may not meet the load requirements and could be damaged while the vehicle is being driven. This could cause an accident and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0267/19
A bolt in the locking mechanism of the articulated trailer coupling is defective. It could break while a trailer is being towed and consequently the trailer could detach, thus increasing the risk of an accident for following traffic.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02969/24
The pyrofuse casing may move while the vehicle is in motion, potentially damaging cables. As a result, the pyrofuse could fail during an accident or cause the separator piston to dislodge into the driver’s footwell, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, cable damage could lead to high-voltage system failure and loss of power without warning, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
10 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.