2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 73,970 MOT tests, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA recorded a 91.2% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and brakes (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,841 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.8% once past 120-150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 7.6% of the time against 8.8% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,687 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,553 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 1,107 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 586 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 437 |
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 | 1,841 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,791 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 928 |
| 4 | Wipers | 885 |
| 5 | Washers | 824 |
| 6 | Joints | 549 |
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 | 22.7% | 16,821 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 10,410 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 5,692 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 1,783 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 782 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 496 |
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 | 36,778 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 32,058 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,660 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 422 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 68,789 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 5,181 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 614 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 18,331 | 6.5% |
| 2023 | 18,327 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 18,178 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 18,520 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 GLA
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (2.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLAs pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 73,970 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by brakes (2.3%).
Does the 2019 GLA get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,970 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.