Mercedes-Benz GLA200 — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz GLA200 recorded a 93.6% MOT pass rate across 32,537 tests in this dataset (model years 2017–2023), with tyres, brakes and visibility its most common failure areas. Its 6.4% fail rate is lower than the 10.3% average across all Mercedes-Benz GLA versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 57 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
| 2019 | 9,890 | 93.6% | 6.4% |
| 2020 | 15,136 | 93.5% | 6.5% |
| 2021 | 4,982 | 93.6% | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 2,329 | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 116 | 96.5% | 3.5% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 1,068 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.6% | 503 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 458 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 399 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 193 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 103 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 89 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 82 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 552 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 492 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 392 |
| 4 | Wipers | 327 |
| 5 | Washers | 177 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 116 |
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 | 19.1% | 6,221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 3,214 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 2,040 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 801 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 303 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 76 |
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 | 20,370 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,097 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 975 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,600 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 7,713 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 9,940 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 12,262 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz GLA200
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (1.6% 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 (1.4% 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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLA200 at MOT time?
93.6% of the 32,537 Mercedes-Benz GLA200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.4% fail rate, better than the 10.3% average across all GLA versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz GLA200?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).
Does the GLA200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,537 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.