In 2025, 64,776 Mercedes-Benz Gla cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 80% passed first time, compared with 78% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Gla about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 105 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 5 years old, 85% of Glas passed first time (all cars that age: 86%). By 11 years, that figure is 79% (all cars: 69%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 10 to 11 years.
Mercedes-Benz Gla All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Gla passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 1,338 | 85% | 86% | 37,787 |
| 6 years | 11,609 | 84% | 84% | 44,841 |
| 7 years | 16,351 | 82% | 81% | 52,871 |
| 8 years | 12,723 | 80% | 78% | 62,457 |
| 9 years | 10,554 | 77% | 75% | 71,669 |
| 10 years | 8,779 | 76% | 72% | 78,270 |
| 11 years | 3,408 | 79% | 69% | 81,974 |
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz Gla
The area that lets the Gla down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 0.5% of tests failed on it, 1.5 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and brakes.
Share of Gla tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 3.8% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.1% |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Body and structure | 2.8% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 2.8% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.6% |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | Emissions and leaks | 2.2% |
What to check when buying a used Gla
Based on where the Gla fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Gla
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a GlaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Mercedes-Benz Gla?
In 2025, 80% of Mercedes-Benz Gla cars passed their MOT first time, across 64,776 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 78%.
What do Mercedes-Benz Gla cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.8% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.1% of tests); a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.8% of tests).
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (74%), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (77%), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (77%), Mercedes-Benz Vito (67%), Mercedes-Benz B-Class (72%), Mercedes-Benz Glc (85%). All Mercedes-Benz models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.