Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mercedes-Benz GLE appears in 142,680 MOT tests spanning model years 2013–2025, and 90.6% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.8%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 1.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 5,671 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.9% in the 0-30k band and 13.2% in the 150k+ band, a 6.3-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 9.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Versions & engines
MOT records broken out by the engine designations buyers actually search for.
By model year
Every GLE model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 60 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 7,095 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 30,260 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 25,537 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 33,466 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 15,314 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 16,312 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 10,413 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 4,029 | 90.1% | 9.8% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 180 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 8,576 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.4% | 1,987 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 1,624 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 1,387 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 1,306 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 987 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.6% | 829 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 787 |
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 | 5,671 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,043 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,554 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 1,409 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 924 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 836 |
| 7 | Washers | 821 |
| 8 | Joints | 632 |
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 | 22.3% | 31,776 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 14,692 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 9,660 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 4,116 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 2,347 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 2,237 |
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 | 32,405 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 70,181 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 30,990 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,338 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,408 | 12.9% |
| 150k+ | 349 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 128,794 | 9.5% |
| Petrol | 9,645 | 8.5% |
| Hybrid | 4,232 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,147 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 23,760 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 28,967 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 33,354 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 36,452 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (1.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz GLE?
90.6% of the 142,680 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.4% fail rate, across model years 2013–2025.
What does the Mercedes-Benz GLE most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, then brakes (1.4%).
How much does mileage affect GLE MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 13.2% for 150k+, a 6.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel GLE more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 9.5% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 142,680 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.