Known APK problem

Mercedes-Benz CLA C118: brakes

On the Mercedes-Benz CLA C118 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 2.3× as often as on cars of the same age: at 5–6 years 4.1%, 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 C118s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	CLA C118	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
3 – 4 years	A	0.2%	0.1 – 0.5%	0.4%	0.5×	2,600
3 – 4 years	B	0.3%	0.1 – 0.6%	0.7%	0.4×	2,600
3 – 4 years	C	1.3%	0.9 – 1.8%	0.7%	1.8×	2,600
5 – 6 years	A	0.4%	0.2 – 0.6%	0.8%	0.5×	2,848
5 – 6 years	B	1.2%	0.8 – 1.6%	1.2%	1.0×	2,848
5 – 6 years	C	4.1%	3.4 – 4.9%	1.8%	2.3×	2,848

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 C118	4.1%	2.3×
Škoda Superb II	0.5%	0.6×
Volkswagen Passat B8	0.8%	1.1×
Volvo V60 II / S60 III	0.2%	0.3×
BMW 3-serie G20	0.2%	0.2×
Audi A4 (B9)	0.2%	0.3×

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLA C118? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz CLA C118s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz CLA C118 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Mercedes-Benz CLA C118 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 5–6 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 4.1% of inspected Mercedes-Benz CLA C118s, against about 1.8% of all cars of the same age (2.3×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Mercedes-Benz CLA C118?

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