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

11,962 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2020–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 3 Mercedes-Benz GLB 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 year2020–2022
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.

89.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 89.2% to 90.3%.

Mercedes-Benz GLB, all years89.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles87.5%

In 2025, 89.8% of the 11,962 initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz GLB cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 87.5%. That is 2.3 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific GLB

Its own MOT history, free.

Mercedes-Benz GLB 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	5,25526,400	91.0%±0.9	+2.5 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	4,10734,600	89.3%±1.0	+2.1 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	2,60042,600	88.2%±1.3	+2.2 ptsall: 86.0%

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

Does mileage matter?

Mercedes-Benz GLB first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

92.2% of Mercedes-Benz GLB tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 88.2% at 30,000 to 59,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 90.7% and 85.4%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	5,253	92.2%±0.8	+1.4 ptsall: 90.7%
30,000–59,999	5,868	88.2%±0.9	+2.9 ptsall: 85.4%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, GLB tests were above average in every band shown.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Mercedes-Benz GLB tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 60,000–89,999, 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. Every test had a usable odometer reading. How we count

Common GLB problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,221 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%.

Tyres46.7%
Brakes19.1%
Lights and electrics16.0%

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 GLB

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

Tyres
In 46.7% of failed GLB 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.
Brakes
In 19.1% of failed GLB tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Lights and electrics
In 16.0% of failed GLB 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.

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

Check a GLB's MOT history

Mercedes-Benz GLB questions

Which Mercedes-Benz GLB 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: 2020–2022. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 89.8% of initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz GLB cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 87.5%. That is 2.3 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 GLB problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are tyres (in 46.7% of failed tests), brakes (in 19.1% of failed tests) and lights and electrics (in 16.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old Mercedes-Benz GLB?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Mercedes-Benz GLB cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 26,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific GLB'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 GLB

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 GLB cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count