2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,312 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 91.3% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (90.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 942 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 183 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.0% | 164 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 145 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 113 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 90 |
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 | 813 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 199 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 171 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 152 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 93 |
| 6 | Wipers | 87 |
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 | 22.0% | 3,589 |
| 2 | Other defects | 7.6% | 1,245 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 1,223 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 504 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 440 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 113 |
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 | 5,737 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 8,721 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,662 | 10.1% |
| 90-120k | 163 | 8.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,797 | 8.5% |
| Hybrid | 1,399 | 10.8% |
| Petrol | 113 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 213 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 5,513 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 5,340 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 5,237 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 GLE
Before buying a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (1.0% 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLEs pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 16,312 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2020 GLE get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 8.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,312 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.