Mercedes-Benz GLE350d — MOT pass rate & failures
5,207 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz GLE350d (2015–2023) give a 90.3% pass rate. That tracks the Mercedes-Benz GLE range as a whole almost exactly. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 284 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the GLE350d fails 8.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 10.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,299 | 93.2% | 6.8% |
| 2021 | 2,407 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 1,457 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 373 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 70 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.1% | 58 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 46 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.5% | 28 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 26 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 21 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 16 |
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 | 284 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 59 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 45 |
| 5 | Wipers | 25 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 20 |
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 | 23.5% | 1,225 |
| 2 | Other defects | 7.6% | 395 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 184 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 163 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 77 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 46 |
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 | 1,625 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,628 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 797 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 508 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 1,750 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 2,929 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz GLE350d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.2% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.1% 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.
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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLE350d at MOT time?
90.3% of the 5,207 Mercedes-Benz GLE350d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate, in line with the 9.4% average across all GLE versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz GLE350d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the GLE350d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,207 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.