Mercedes-Benz GLA years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

91,677 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2014–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 9 Mercedes-Benz GLA years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2014–2022
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

83.3%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 83.0% to 83.5%.

Mercedes-Benz GLA, all years83.3%
Same-age average, all vehicles80.5%

In 2025, 83.3% of the 91,677 initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz GLA cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 80.5%. That is 2.8 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific GLA

Its own MOT history, free.

Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	5,00122,500	91.4%±0.9	+2.9 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	9,03131,300	91.6%±0.6	+4.4 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	9,02533,800	89.8%±0.7	+3.8 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	16,72841,500	85.4%±0.6	+1.9 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	16,37750,600	81.8%±0.6	+0.9 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	12,74059,900	79.7%±0.8	+1.5 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	10,55869,500	77.2%±0.9	+2.3 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	8,79276,600	76.3%±0.9	+4.4 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	3,42580,000	78.9%±1.4	+10.3 ptsall: 68.6%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common GLA problems at the MOT

Share of the 15,320 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Tyres30.7%
Suspension26.1%
Lights and electrics14.8%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors14.7%
Brakes14.6%
Body, chassis, structure12.5%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a GLA

Based on the areas where Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 30.7% of failed GLA tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Suspension
In 26.1% of failed GLA tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Lights and electrics
In 14.8% of failed GLA tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 14.7% of failed GLA tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a GLA's MOT history

Mercedes-Benz GLA questions

Which Mercedes-Benz GLA years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2014–2022. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLA reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 83.3% of initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz GLA cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 80.5%. That is 2.8 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz GLA problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are tyres (in 30.7% of failed tests), suspension (in 26.1% of failed tests) and lights and electrics (in 14.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Mercedes-Benz GLA?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Mercedes-Benz GLA cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 76,600 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific GLA's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Mercedes-Benz GLA

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 23 Mercedes-Benz models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Mercedes-Benz GLA cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count