2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,815 MOT tests, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA recorded an 86.3% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2015 GLA comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and tyres (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and linkage ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 1,679 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 11.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.4% fail against 14.2% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 50,815 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 2,896 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,331 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,336 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 1,199 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 1,103 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,042 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,679 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,202 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,198 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,047 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 994 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 946 |
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 | 25.0% | 12,698 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 9,440 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 3,634 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.5% | 3,277 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 1,732 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 1,225 |
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 | 3,216 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 20,803 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 19,018 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,292 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,198 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 283 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 45,951 | 14.2% |
| Petrol | 4,864 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,888 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 10,091 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 10,143 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 10,270 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 10,423 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 GLA
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.7% 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.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (2.6% 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLAs pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 50,815 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2015 GLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,815 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.