Mercedes-Benz Gls MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 9,440 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 11.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes-Benz Gls MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes-Benz Gls is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 9,440 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% and a failure rate of 11.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes-Benz Gls earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Mercedes-Benz Gls presents for MOT with approximately 45,630 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2019 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.6%, while 2016 models have the lowest at 86.0%. This 4.6 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes-Benz Gls is Tyres, affecting 17.1% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Brakes at 5.6%. Identification of the vehicle rounds out the top three at 1.6%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
Based on MOT data, 2017 models have the highest pass rate at 90.6%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 2016 to 2018
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 4 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Mercedes-Benz Gls vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Mercedes-Benz Gls. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 8 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Mercedes-Benz Gls shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 27% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 8 (16.3% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 17.1% | 1,611 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 524 |
| 3 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.6% | 150 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.5% | 139 |
| 5 | Non-component Advisories | 1.4% | 132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 129 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.2% | 111 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.8% | 74 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.4% | 37 |
| 10 | Suspension | 0.3% | 27 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 0.3% | 26 |
| 12 | Steering | 0.1% | 5 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 45,630 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 3.74 | 17.1% | 1,611 |
| Brakes | 1.22 | 5.6% | 524 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.35 | 1.6% | 150 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.32 | 1.5% | 139 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.31 | 1.4% | 132 |
| Visibility | 0.30 | 1.4% | 129 |
| Body & Structure | 0.26 | 1.2% | 111 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.17 | 0.8% | 74 |
| Seat Belts | 0.09 | 0.4% | 37 |
| Suspension | 0.06 | 0.3% | 27 |
| Wheels | 0.06 | 0.3% | 26 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.1% | 5 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes-Benz Gls has 45,630 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes-Benz Gls has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.56% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes-Benz Gls MOT Data
The Mercedes-Benz Gls is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 9,440 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% and a failure rate of 11.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes-Benz Gls owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Gls is likely to perform.
Tyres — 17.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 17.1% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Gls. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 5.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 5.6% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Gls. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Identification of the vehicle — 1.6% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 1.6% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Gls. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Gls?
Based on 9,440 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes-Benz Gls has an overall pass rate of 88.3% (11.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Gls?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes-Benz Gls fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (17.1%), 2. Brakes (5.6%), 3. Identification of the vehicle (1.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes-Benz Gls reliable?
With a 11.7% MOT failure rate, the Gls is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes-Benz Gls?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (17.1%); Brakes (5.6%); Identification of the vehicle (1.6%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.