2006 Mercedes-Benz Gl — MOT failures & pass rate
448 MOT tests on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz Gl are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. That is 7.6 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.9%) and lighting & signalling (7.8%) 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 position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Gl fails 10.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 13.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.5% in 2021 to 13.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.9% | 40 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 23 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 8 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 10 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 9 |
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 | 33.5% | 150 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.4% | 96 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.0% | 85 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 83 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 45 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 32 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 58 | 10.3% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 103 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 369 | 16.3% |
| Petrol | 79 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 120 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 112 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 85 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 73 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 58 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Gl
On a 2006 Gl, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
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 2006 Mercedes-Benz Gls pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 448 2006 Mercedes-Benz Gl MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz Gl?
Brakes, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.8%).
Does the 2006 Gl get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 60-90k band to 13.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 448 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.