2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS passed 89.4% of its 2,322 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.8 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.0% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 105 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 GLS fails 7.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 162 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.9% | 44 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 35 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 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 | 105 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 27 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 14 |
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 | 19.3% | 448 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 279 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 170 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 48 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 32 |
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 | 190 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 971 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 797 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 281 | 9.6% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,018 | 10.8% |
| Petrol | 304 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 499 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 489 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 465 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 445 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 424 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 GLS
On a 2016 GLS, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 (1.9% 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 (1.5% 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 GLSs pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 2,322 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by brakes (1.9%).
Does the 2016 GLS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,322 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.