2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,004 MOT tests, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA recorded an 87.5% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.8%) 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 brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 1,546 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.9% once past 150k — 3.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (12.8% vs 9.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.8% | 2,895 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,772 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 1,421 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,387 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,239 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 923 |
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 | 1,546 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,351 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,206 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,113 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 976 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 868 |
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 | 24.8% | 14,849 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 10,485 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,440 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 3,643 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,567 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 898 |
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 | 6,645 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 29,080 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 18,286 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,843 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 928 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 205 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 52,520 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 7,484 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,520 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 11,756 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 12,049 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 12,248 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 12,431 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 GLA
On a 2016 GLA, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (4.8% 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 (2.4% 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLAs pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 60,004 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
Suspension, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2016 GLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,004 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.