1997 Mercedes Cl 420 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

60.3%

Latest Pass Rate

695

Total Tests (All Years)

110,918 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 60.3%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 4.9% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes Cl 420 as it ages.

12 yrs48.8%

→ ↑9.6%

13 yrs58.4%

→ ↑6.2%

14 yrs64.6%

→ ↓0.2%

15 yrs64.4%

→ ↑0.7%

16 yrs65.1%

→ ↓4.2%

17 yrs60.9%

→ ↑13.7%

18 yrs74.6%

→ ↓14.3%

19 yrs60.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	48.8%	121
13 yrs	58.4%	113
14 yrs	64.6%	96
15 yrs	64.4%	87
16 yrs	65.1%	83
17 yrs	60.9%	69
18 yrs	74.6%	63
19 yrs	60.3%	63

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes Cl 420 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (19 yrs)	60.3%	63
2015 (18 yrs)	74.6%	63
2014 (17 yrs)	60.9%	69
2013 (16 yrs)	65.1%	83
2012 (15 yrs)	64.4%	87
2011 (14 yrs)	64.6%	96
2010 (13 yrs)	58.4%	113
2009 (12 yrs)	48.8%	121

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 121Avg Mileage 109,423Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.9%

2010High Fail Rate

58.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 113Avg Mileage 101,959Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.4%

2011High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 96Avg Mileage 100,822Top Failure Brakes — 19.8%

2012High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 87Avg Mileage 98,815Top Failure Suspension — 19.5%

2013

65.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 83Avg Mileage 99,076Top Failure Brakes — 43.4%

2014High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 69Avg Mileage 105,314Top Failure Brakes — 37.7%

2015

74.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 63Avg Mileage 111,508Top Failure Brakes — 36.5%

2016High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 63Avg Mileage 110,918Top Failure Suspension — 50.8%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes Cl 420 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	48.8%	121	109,423	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.9%
2010	13	58.4%	113	101,959	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.4%
2011	14	64.6%	96	100,822	Brakes — 19.8%
2012	15	64.4%	87	98,815	Suspension — 19.5%
2013	16	65.1%	83	99,076	Brakes — 43.4%
2014	17	60.9%	69	105,314	Brakes — 37.7%
2015	18	74.6%	63	111,508	Brakes — 36.5%
2016	19	60.3%	63	110,918	Suspension — 50.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes Cl 420, with age trends.

Brakes

29.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

26.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

17.9%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

16.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.1% (12 yrs)	50.8% (19 yrs)	+27.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.5% (12 yrs)	44.4% (19 yrs)	+22.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	23.1% (12 yrs)	31.7% (19 yrs)	+8.6%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	28.9% (12 yrs)	36.5% (19 yrs)	+7.6%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	16.5% (12 yrs)	17.5% (19 yrs)	+1.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 1998

← Back to Mercedes Cl 420 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes Cl 420 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Cl 420 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 695 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.