2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC — MOT failures & pass rate
7,637 MOT tests on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC are in this dataset, and 87.5% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 15.7% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.6%) and tyres (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and brake pads — ball joint alone was recorded 367 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.4% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
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 — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.6% | 431 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 344 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 156 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 122 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 102 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 94 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 367 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 212 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 144 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 121 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 120 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 90 |
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% | 1,736 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.2% | 1,233 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 738 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 503 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 284 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 79 |
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 | 334 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,833 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,035 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,134 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 244 | 14.8% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,523 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 1,548 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 1,543 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 1,525 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 1,498 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 GLC
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 (4.5% 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 (2.0% 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.
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 GLCs pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 7,637 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Suspension, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2015 GLC get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,637 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.