Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% 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 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,628 vehicles, the 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (28.7% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (24.5% 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 2017 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 (2017)

1,628 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.9% first-time pass rate

2017 Mercedes Benz Cls

CarHunch analysed 1,628 real MOT records for the 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS diesel passes its MOT 87.9% of the time—well above the 80% UK average—which is a positive starting point. However, nearly 38% of these cars have suffered a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant concern and suggests that when problems do occur, they tend to be serious rather than minor.

At 47,406 miles on average, these cars are running well within expected mileage for a seven-year-old model, yet they're averaging 0.97 failures per test and 5.5 advisories, pointing to wear in multiple systems rather than one headline issue. Before viewing a specific example, ask the seller for full service history and run an independent pre-purchase inspection—this cohort's safety defect rate means you can't rely on MOT pass alone.

The 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls has a decent first-time pass rate (87.9%), 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

87.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

37.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.97

Over 6.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

44k

Middle half: 33k–59k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.5 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 1,628 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 1,628 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 30.4%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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 24.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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.

Suspension & steering 14.8%

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.

Other issues 10.4%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,628 Mercedes Benz Cls cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls

Based on MOT data from 1,628 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37.9% 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 (97%)	1,582	87.9%	0.97

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 2017 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.

43,506

typical

32,919

low mileage

59,280

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls vehicles fall between 32,919 and 59,280 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 32,919 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.

✓ 32,919–59,280 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Mercedes Benz Clss sit.

⚠ Over 80,028 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Mercedes Benz Cls — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Mercedes Benz Clss are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,416 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

6.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.97

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

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 2017 Mercedes Benz Cls stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing