Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,424 vehicles, the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.2% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (25.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz Cla (2013)

2,424 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.1% first-time pass rate

2013 Mercedes Benz Cla

CarHunch analysed 2,424 real MOT records for the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA passes its MOT on the first attempt 83.1% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which suggests broadly reliable mechanicals—though the 48.4% of vehicles that have recorded a dangerous defect at some point is a genuine concern for buyers and warrants thorough pre-purchase inspection. Diesel variants edge ahead of petrol models (83.9% vs 82.2% pass rate), though the difference is marginal.

These CLAs average around 66,500 miles, which is reasonable for an 11-year-old car, but the typical vehicle racks up 10.8 advisories and 2.06 failures per test, suggesting that while major mechanical breakdowns aren't the norm, minor wear and maintenance issues are common and ongoing. Before buying one, have an independent mechanic specifically check the brake systems and suspension components—these are the frequent failure points on this generation—and expect to budget for regular upkeep beyond just the headline MOT pass.

The 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla has a decent first-time pass rate (83.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

48.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.06

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

68k

Middle half: 53k–83k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 10.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,424 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,424 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 52.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 25.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 15.8%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Lighting 10.4%

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,424 Mercedes Benz Cla cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

82.2%

Petrol

1,183 vehicles

83.9%

Diesel

1,241 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla

Based on MOT data from 2,424 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 48.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (51%)	1,241	83.9%	1.94
Petrol (49%)	1,183	82.2%	2.18

Colour Breakdown

Based on 64,873 Mercedes Benz Cla vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 29.6%

19,209

White 27.6%

17,907

Grey 22.2%

14,431

Silver 8%

5,174

Red 6.9%

4,447

Blue 4.5%

2,923

Purple 1.1%

692

Bronze 0.1%

Green 0%

Gold 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

68,102

typical

53,181

low mileage

83,105

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla vehicles fall between 53,181 and 83,105 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 53,181 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 53,181–83,105 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Mercedes Benz Clas sit.

⚠ Over 112,191 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Mercedes Benz Cla — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Clas are still being driven.

Strong survival — 1,978 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.06

Avg failures per vehicle

10.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Cla: All Cla years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cla stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing