Mercedes-benz Gla Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Gla car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Gla reliable? We analysed 485,860 real MOT tests across 69,226 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Gla? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Gla is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Gla.
Mercedes-benz Gla Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Gla. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Gla MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Gla to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Gla Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz Gla models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Mercedes-benz Gla Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Gla owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Gla MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Gla year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,645 | 89.1% | 20,096 | 29,657 | 41,452 |
| 2019 | 59,848 | 88.0% | 22,293 | 32,358 | 45,123 |
| 2018 | 101,116 | 88.2% | 24,267 | 36,168 | 51,276 |
| 2017 | 97,362 | 87.9% | 28,162 | 42,060 | 59,244 |
| 2016 | 91,890 | 86.8% | 31,964 | 47,552 | 66,690 |
| 2015 | 87,132 | 86.3% | 34,519 | 51,399 | 71,898 |
| 2014 | 38,427 | 87.1% | 34,998 | 53,137 | 75,113 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Gla Last?
Based on 69,226 Mercedes-benz Gla vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Gla Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Gla MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Gla
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.1% MOT pass rate from 5,645 tests
86.3% MOT pass rate from 87,132 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Gla is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 5,645 tests. The 2015 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.3% — 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 Gla Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Gla THIS CAR | 87.4% | 485,860 | 42,345 mi | 12 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 |
| Jaguar XK8 | 76.5% | 236,376 | 72,859 mi | 30 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Gla outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Gla you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz GlaShould you buy a used Mercedes-benz Gla?
The Mercedes-benz Gla has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.4% across 485,860 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 Gla 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 Gla owner drives around 6,663 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.
In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz Gla models stay on UK roads for around 12 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
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.