2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class passed 93.0% of its 2,424 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.8 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests against 1.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 41 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.9% versus 5.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 6.7% of the time against 7.0% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 106 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 31 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.9% | 22 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.4% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 39 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 18 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 6 | Washers | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.8% | 334 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 144 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 136 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 64 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,159 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,040 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 201 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,830 | 7.0% |
| Diesel | 594 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 595 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 603 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 593 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 603 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 G-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (0.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Classs pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 2,424 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2019 G-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,424 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.