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CarsMercedes GLA

MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Mercedes GLA reliability: what the MOT shows

91,166 GLAs had an MOT in 2025. 83.3% passed first time, against 80.6% for other cars of the same age and mileage. That is 2.6 points better than comparable cars. Those registered from 2020 onwards pass more often than other cars their age.

83.3%passed first time

+2.6points against cars of the same age and mileage

1.8×as many body and structure failures as comparable cars

Report card

Mercedes GLA MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often GLAs of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2014	79.0%	+10.6	3,445
2015	76.4%	+5.2	8,804
2016	77.2%	+2.9	10,567
2017	79.8%	+1.6	12,745
2018	81.8%	+0.6	16,384
2019	85.4%	+1.3	16,740
2020	89.7%	+3.0	8,963
2021	91.6%	+4.0	8,755
2022	91.5%	+2.3	4,763

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Mercedes GLA years to avoid, going by the MOT

Ahead2014 to 2017+1.6 to +10.6 ptsMost common failures: coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2014, 2015 and 2016; joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2017. 35,561 MOTs.

Level2018 to 2019+0.6 to +1.3 ptsMost common failures: joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2018; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2019. 33,124 MOTs.

Ahead2020 to 2022+2.3 to +4.0 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords). 22,481 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Mercedes GLA common faults at the MOT

2.1% of GLA MOTs failed on body and structure, against 1.2% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 1.8% on emissions and leaks, against 1.6%.

Most common failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.6%

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.7%

Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%

Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.2%

Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.7%

Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.9%

GLASame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.7×0.60% of GLA MOTs (549) against 0.09% for cars of the same age and mileage

Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.2×1.34% of GLA MOTs (1,223) against 0.22% for cars of the same age and mileage

Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour4.8×0.31% of GLA MOTs (279) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.2×1.89% of GLA MOTs (1,720) against 0.59% for cars of the same age and mileage

Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator2.0×0.35% of GLA MOTs (316) against 0.18% for cars of the same age and mileage

Attachment: fixing missing1.9×0.33% of GLA MOTs (297) against 0.17% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage

Against cars of the same age and mileage, in points: Under 30k: +2.3, 30–60k: +2.6, 60–90k: +2.9, 90–120k: +3.2, 120k+: +0.2.

GLA, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid GLA

Diesels passed 80.0% first time, 3.2 points above comparable cars; petrols passed 85.9%, 1.9 points above comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 63,433 miles at the test, against 39,491 for petrols.

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Petrol	44,658	85.9%	84.0%	+1.9	39,491
Diesel	43,537	80.0%	76.7%	+3.2	63,433
Hybrid	2,970	91.5%	87.2%	+4.3	32,133

Against rivals

GLA against other premium SUVs

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The GLA ranks 17 of 18.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. Range Rover	39,880	85.2%	76.5%	+8.7
2. Audi Q5	85,227	85.7%	77.9%	+7.8
3. Range Rover Sport	75,077	84.2%	77.2%	+7.0
4. Land Rover Discovery	67,572	82.7%	76.4%	+6.3
5. Jaguar I-Pace	17,780	91.1%	85.4%	+5.8
6. BMW X1	82,175	84.9%	79.3%	+5.7
7. Range Rover Evoque	148,573	83.4%	78.1%	+5.2
8. BMW X3	72,125	84.4%	79.2%	+5.2
9. Audi Q3	110,455	83.4%	78.2%	+5.1
10. Volvo XC60	90,526	81.8%	76.8%	+5.0
11. Volvo XC90	40,591	83.5%	78.5%	+5.0
12. Volvo XC40	71,168	89.6%	85.4%	+4.1
13. Jaguar F-Pace	53,345	84.6%	80.5%	+4.1
14. Land Rover Defender	26,707	84.0%	80.4%	+3.6
15. Jaguar E-Pace	31,252	87.1%	83.6%	+3.5
16. Land Rover Discovery Sport	109,161	81.0%	77.7%	+3.2
17. Mercedes GLA	86,403	82.8%	80.2%	+2.6
18. Range Rover Velar	32,716	84.3%	82.2%	+2.1

Check these before you buy a used GLA

What testers most often noted as advisories on GLAs in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15% (15%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10% (9%)
Brake pads: wearing thin9% (8%)
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6% (8%)
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively4% (3%)
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge2% (2%)
Condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2% (2%)
Ball joint: ball joint has slight play1% (1%)

Questions about GLA reliability

Is the Mercedes GLA reliable?

At the MOT, 83.3% of 91,166 GLA MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 80.6% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2014 to 2017: ahead (+1.6 to +10.6 points). 2018 to 2019: level (+0.6 to +1.3 points). 2020 to 2022: ahead (+2.3 to +4.0 points).

Which Mercedes GLA years should I avoid?

None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of cars of the same age and mileage, or ahead of them.

What is the most common MOT failure on a GLA?

Coil spring: fractured or broken: 1.9% of GLA MOTs, against 1.4% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol GLA more reliable?

Petrol GLAs passed 85.9% first time and diesels 80.0%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 1.9 points above and diesels 3.2 points above.

Is the GLA more reliable than the Range Rover Evoque?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Range Rover Evoque passed 83.4% first time, +5.2 points against comparable cars. The GLA passed 82.8%, +2.6 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the GLA's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Mercedes GLA: 95 recorded model names, from "GLA" to trims such as "GLA 180 AMG LINE EDITION AUTO".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.