2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 30,260 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.5% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (87.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,797 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.6% | 477 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 353 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 349 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 326 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 262 |
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 | 997 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 466 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 321 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 303 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 288 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 245 |
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 | 23.1% | 6,976 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 3,762 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 1,934 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 1,033 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 863 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 452 |
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 | 2,704 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 13,448 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 10,283 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,022 | 11.8% |
| 120-150k | 641 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 158 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 28,018 | 9.5% |
| Petrol | 1,661 | 9.3% |
| Hybrid | 575 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,161 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 6,183 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 6,062 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 5,957 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 5,897 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 GLE
Before buying a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% 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
How many 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLEs pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 30,260 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).
Does the 2016 GLE get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,260 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.