Car statistics by year

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class cars first registered in 2021: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2021, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. “2021” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
9,549 MOT tests of 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 86.1% All 2021 cars 88.4%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 37,100 miles; all 2021 cars 30,700
  • Left at the end of 2025 9,078 92.9% of the 9,771 at the end of 2021
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.0% All 2021 cars 3.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 35.9% All 2021 cars 33.1%
  • MOT tests in 2025 9,549 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 4 years old, 86.1% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 88.4% for all cars first registered in 2021. 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes did worse than average for their age, by 2.3 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 85.9% of the time (all 2021 cars 88.7%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz CLA-ClassAll cars
’13 69.8%66.0%
’14 71.9%69.1%
’15 73.6%72.6%
’16 75.6%75.6%
’17 76.8%79.1%
’18 80.0%81.8%
’19 83.4%84.4%
’20 84.5%86.9%
’21 86.1%88.4%
’22 87.3%89.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords was the most common single reason a 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class failed, on 20.6% of about 1,300 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (52.0% of failed tests; all 2021 cars 41.9%). 6.0% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 3.8% for all cars first registered in 2021. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 20.6%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 13.8%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 13.3%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 12.1%
Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 5.9%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 5.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 5.6%
Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 5.3%
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres 3.7%
Headlamp: insecure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 3.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class vs all 2021 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2021 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Tyres 52.0%
Brakes 19.3%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 16.0%
Visibility 13.8%
Suspension 6.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks 3.0%
Road wheels 2.9%
Identification of the vehicle 2.9%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 35.9% of 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class tests had at least one (all 2021 cars 33.1%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 15.6%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 10.5%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 8.4%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 3.7%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 3.4%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 2.4%
Nail in tyre Non-component advisories 1.9%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories 1.7%
Linkage ball joint has slight play Suspension 1.1%
Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres 0.9%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

Half of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 37,100 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 27,000 and a quarter more than 49,400. For all cars first registered in 2021, the middle figure was 30,700 miles, so 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes have been driven 20.8% further than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and all 2021 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 19,000 27,000 37,100 49,400 62,700 9,055
All 2021 cars 14,300 21,300 30,700 42,500 56,500 1,457,950
miles

Half of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 37,100 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes are left?

At the end of 2021, 9,771 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 9,078 were: 8,923 licensed and 155 declared off the road (SORN). That is 92.9% still on the record, against 96.0% for all cars first registered in 2021.

Share still on the record since 2021

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2021. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2021, compared with all 2021 cars
Year end 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-ClassAll 2021 cars
2021 100.0%100.0%
2022 96.8%98.4%
2023 96.7%97.6%
2024 93.5%94.7%
2025 92.9%96.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2021

14 of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class’s 73 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2021. 3 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2021 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2021 may have been built in 2020, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recalls whose build dates include 2021
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
6 May 2024 SRPC2404 – Backup function of steering software 28 Nov 2018 to 31 Jan 2024 52,400
24 Mar 2022 Bolting on brake caliper housing might not meet specifications 7 Dec 2019 to 24 Nov 2021 17 (all models)
14 Jan 2022 Locking pawl spring of the left hand side door locks might not be greased correctly 19 Jan 2020 to 3 Feb 2021 2,829 (all models)
1 Dec 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 21 (all models)
1 Dec 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 23 (all models)
29 Nov 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 50,390 (all models)
13 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 108,971 (all models)
11 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 86,604 (all models)
10 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 90,716 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 162,581 (all models)
5 May 2021 The emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 106,665 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 10,410 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 81,267 (all models)
5 May 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 4 Jan 2016 to 29 Jan 2021 7 (all models)

Every Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

10 years of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2013 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (69.8% passed first time) and the 2020 cars worst (84.5%).

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2013 2,125 69.8% 66.0%
2014 5,247 4,388 71.9% 69.1%
2015 7,589 6,830 73.6% 72.6%
2016 7,877 7,244 75.6% 75.6%
2017 8,406 7,790 76.8% 79.1%
2018 8,593 7,977 80.0% 81.8%
2019 9,386 8,261 83.4% 84.4%
2020 7,839 7,147 84.5% 86.9%
2021 9,771 9,078 86.1% 88.4%
2022 11,264 10,635 87.3% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 9,549 MOT tests of 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 9,078 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class cars first registered in 2021; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2021.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.