2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC — MOT failures & pass rate
76,596 MOT tests on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC are in this dataset, and 91.7% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2019 GLC comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 1,423 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.0% versus 5.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 7.0% of the time against 8.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,447 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.5% | 1,123 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 1,094 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 809 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 791 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 710 |
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 | 1,423 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,114 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,106 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 779 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 779 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 417 |
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 | 21.3% | 16,291 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 8,278 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 4,965 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 3,291 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,372 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 337 |
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 | 29,613 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 38,015 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,888 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 932 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 49,749 | 8.5% |
| Petrol | 24,243 | 8.0% |
| Hybrid | 2,593 | 7.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 709 | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 19,367 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 19,099 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 18,544 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 18,877 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 GLC
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.
- Suspension (1.5% 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.
- Brakes (1.4% 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 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLCs pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 76,596 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by suspension (1.5%).
Does the 2019 GLC get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,596 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.