Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls?

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 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls?

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 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls?

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 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

46% 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 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,455 vehicles, the 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (44.7% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (38.6% 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 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls?

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 Cls (2012)

1,455 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.4% first-time pass rate

2012 Mercedes Benz Cls

CarHunch analysed 1,455 real MOT records for the 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS passes its MOT first time at 83.4%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which is encouraging—but nearly 46% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a significant concern for safety-conscious buyers. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (85.2% and 83.1% respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.

These cars are averaging 69,275 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're racking up 2.11 failures per vehicle and 13.8 advisories, suggesting wear and ageing systems need close attention. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and electrical components—the high advisory rate points to nickel-and-dime maintenance costs that can accumulate quickly on an ageing luxury model.

The 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls has a decent first-time pass rate (83.4%), 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

83.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.11

Over 11.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 52k–87k

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 13.8 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 1,455 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 1,455 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 45.2%

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

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

Brake wear 38.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 30.2%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Suspension & steering 21.3%

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,455 Mercedes Benz Cls cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls

Based on MOT data from 1,455 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.8% 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 (90%)	1,307	83.1%	2.15
Petrol (10%)	148	85.8%	1.72

Colour Breakdown

Based on 34,383 Mercedes Benz Cls vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 37.2%

12,798

Silver 32.2%

11,069

Grey 14.8%

5,086

White 6.7%

2,306

Blue 4.8%

1,635

Red 3.4%

1,184

Beige 0.3%

118

Green 0.2%

Gold 0.1%

Brown 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls 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.

69,247

typical

52,059

low mileage

86,798

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls vehicles fall between 52,059 and 86,798 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,059 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.

✓ 52,059–86,798 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Mercedes Benz Clss sit.

⚠ Over 117,177 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Mercedes Benz Cls — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Mercedes Benz Clss are still being driven.

1,001 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 75% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

11.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.11

Avg failures per vehicle

13.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Mercedes Benz Cls stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing