Known APK problem

Mercedes-Benz CLA C117: brakes

On the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 2.5× as often as on cars of the same age: at 5–6 years 4.5%, against about 1.8% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	CLA C117	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
5 – 6 years	C	4.5%	3.0 – 6.8%	1.8%	2.5×	466
7 – 8 years	A	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	1.3%	0.3×	3,062
7 – 8 years	B	1.2%	0.9 – 1.6%	1.5%	0.8×	3,062
7 – 8 years	C	4.8%	4.1 – 5.6%	2.5%	1.9×	3,062
9 – 10 years	A	0.8%	0.5 – 1.1%	2.0%	0.4×	3,862
9 – 10 years	B	1.0%	0.8 – 1.4%	1.7%	0.6×	3,862
9 – 10 years	C	5.2%	4.6 – 6.0%	2.7%	1.9×	3,862
11 – 12 years	A	0.5%	0.3 – 0.8%	2.5%	0.2×	2,652
11 – 12 years	B	1.2%	0.9 – 1.7%	1.7%	0.7×	2,652
11 – 12 years	C	4.5%	3.8 – 5.3%	2.8%	1.6×	2,652
13 – 15 years	A	2.4%	1.2 – 4.7%	4.0%	0.6×	334
13 – 15 years	B	1.5%	0.6 – 3.5%	1.9%	0.8×	334
13 – 15 years	C	3.9%	2.3 – 6.5%	3.0%	1.3×	334

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 5–6 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Mercedes-Benz CLA C117	4.5%	2.5×
Mazda Mazda6 (GJ/GL)	1.7%	1.4×
Audi A5 (F5)	0.8%	0.7×
Tesla Model S	1.7%	0.9×
Volkswagen Arteon	2.7%	2.3×

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLA C117? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA C117 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 5–6 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 4.5% of inspected Mercedes-Benz CLA C117s, against about 1.8% of all cars of the same age (2.5×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Mercedes-Benz CLA C117?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know