2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA passed 87.0% of its 19,750 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 18.6% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and suspension (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 562 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.4% versus 7.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (13.5% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 977 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.7% | 933 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 631 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 453 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 424 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 416 |
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 | 562 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 453 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 428 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 414 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 333 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 325 |
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 | 24.9% | 4,927 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 3,456 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 1,394 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,383 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 497 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 333 |
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 | 1,082 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 6,776 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,823 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,122 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 765 | 18.8% |
| 150k+ | 177 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,757 | 13.5% |
| Petrol | 2,993 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,891 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 3,917 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 3,979 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 3,993 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 3,970 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 GLA
On a 2014 GLA, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLAs pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 19,750 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by suspension (4.7%).
Does the 2014 GLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,750 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.