2007 Mercedes-Benz Gl 320 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz Gl 320 passed 79.7% of its 1,465 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 2007 Gl 320 comes out 6.5pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.8%) and lighting & signalling (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, tread depth and shock absorbers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 111 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 21.3% versus 15.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.1% in 2021 to 17.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.8% | 143 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 140 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 80 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 79 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 66 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 111 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 52 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 5 | Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo | 37 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 36 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.9% | 555 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 25.8% | 378 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 377 |
| 4 | Suspension | 23.4% | 343 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 151 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 134 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 33 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 151 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 384 | 18.2% |
| 120-150k | 493 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 399 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 373 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 366 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 275 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 251 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 200 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Gl 320
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2007 Mercedes-Benz Gl 320s pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 1,465 2007 Mercedes-Benz Gl 320 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz Gl 320?
Brakes, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2007 Gl 320 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 30-60k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,465 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.