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Mercedes-benz G Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz G car check

Is the Mercedes-benz G reliable? We analysed 6,064 real MOT tests across 2,011 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,064 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.7%
Typical Mileage
29,859mi
Annual Mileage
5,936mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Mercedes-benz G is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz G.

Mercedes-benz G Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz G. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz G MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz G to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

93%
2022
92.7%
2021
91.6%
2020
92.4%
2019
94%
2018

Mercedes-benz G Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz G models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 58
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 17
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 11

Mercedes-benz G Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz G owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,175 mi/yr
Typical
5,936 mi/yr
Average
7,468 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,425 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz G MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz G year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 445 93.0% 15,296 23,851 32,203
2021 1,016 92.7% 17,779 25,855 35,407
2020 1,562 91.6% 20,456 31,094 43,726
2019 2,469 92.4% 19,891 31,494 45,626
2018 100 94.0% 15,540 25,520 41,884

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz G Last?

Based on 2,011 Mercedes-benz G vehicles on UK roads.

Average
5.1 years
Median
5.0 years

Mercedes-benz G Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz G MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
29,859 mi
75th Percentile
43,179 mi
95th Percentile
71,343 mi
Max Recorded
307,494 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz G

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2018

94.0% MOT pass rate from 100 tests

Year to avoid
2020

91.6% MOT pass rate from 1,562 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz G is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.0% across 100 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes-benz G Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz G THIS CAR 91.7% 6,064 29,859 mi — yrs
Mercedes-benz C 77.6% 8,031,355 77,082 mi 32 yrs
Mercedes-benz E 79.4% 4,722,746 83,960 mi 33 yrs
Mercedes-benz A-class 77.6% 4,204,702 57,023 mi 28 yrs
Seat Leon FR Black ED TSI Evo S-a 87.7% 2,404 35,851 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz G outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz G?

The Mercedes-benz G has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% across 6,064 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes-benz G with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mercedes-benz G owner drives around 5,936 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mercedes-benz G — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz G reliable?
Based on 6,064 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz G has a 91.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz G?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz G do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz G does around 5,936 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz G last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz G?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz G?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz G is 2018 with a 94.0% pass rate across 100 tests.