2010 Mercedes-Benz Gl — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,163 MOT tests, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Gl recorded an 84.3% pass rate. That is 4.7 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and tread depth — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 54 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 17.1% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.7% in 2021 to 13.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 91 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 63 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 52 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 17 |
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 | 54 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 29 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 28 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 22 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
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 | 29.0% | 337 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 266 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 175 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.6% | 146 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 102 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 65 |
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 | 59 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 231 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 383 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 285 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,116 | 15.8% |
| Petrol | 47 | 14.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 262 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 246 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 240 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 215 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 200 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Gl
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz Gls pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 1,163 2010 Mercedes-Benz Gl MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz Gl?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2010 Gl get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 30-60k band to 17.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,163 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.