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Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 26,513 MOT tests of cars first registered 2007–2016.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
78.9%pass first time
+12.9 ptsvs typical car
Beats 96%of cars
26,513MOT tests

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class passes its MOT first time on 78.9% of tests, 12.9 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (66.0%). That puts it ahead of 96% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2011 GL-Class does best (beats 99% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 87%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, brakes, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Brake pipes1.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%45678910111213141584%84%82%80%76%73%
Mercedes-Benz GL-ClassTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2007
Beats 95%
2008
Beats 97%
2009
Beats 95%
2010
Beats 97%
2011
Beats 99%
2013
Beats 98%
2014
Beats 96%
2015
Beats 94%
2016
Beats 87%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel2007–201623,29079.6%Beats 96%A
4.0 Diesel2007–20083,22373.8%Beats 98%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 2.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 2.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 7.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 14.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 5.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 7.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 14.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+7.2 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.2 ptsBrakes: 5.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+3.1 ptsSuspension: 2.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+8.9 ptsExhaust: 2.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.9 ptsSuspension: 2.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 5.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 7.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 14.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 7.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 14.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+7.2 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.2 ptsBrakes: 5.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+3.1 ptsSuspension: 2.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+8.9 ptsExhaust: 2.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.9 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 2.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
7.3% vs 14.6%
Tyres
6.4% vs 7.6%
Brakes
5.1% vs 8.2%
Emissions & leaks
2.8% vs 3.7%
Suspension
2.6% vs 11.4%
Visibility
1.8% vs 5.3%
Body & structure
1.7% vs 4.0%
Seat belts & airbags
1.2% vs 1.2%
Steering
0.6% vs 2.3%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Shock absorbers
    Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k86%83%81%79%76%73%
Mercedes-Benz GL-ClassTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.6%3.9%0.9×
Tyre tread depth2.7%3.4%0.8×
Headlight aim1.7%3.8%0.4×
Sidelights1.7%3.8%0.4×
Brake pipes1.3%0.8%1.6×
Shock absorbers1.3%1.4%0.9×
Brake pads1.2%2.5%0.5×
Brake lights1.1%2.8%0.4×
Drive shaft (CV) joints1.0%1.7%0.6×
Headlight bulbs & units1.0%2.7%0.4×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements27.5
A tyre seriously damaged18.6
A tyre cords visible or damaged17.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements17.0
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction17.0
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded12.8
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning12.8
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage12.0
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine83.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel1,47383.8%Beats 87%A
2015 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine84.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel4,87384.0%Beats 94%A
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine83.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel3,98483.1%Beats 96%A
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine82.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel4,18182.4%Beats 98%A
2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine79.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel2,28379.3%Beats 99%A
2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine76.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel1,53776.2%Beats 97%A
2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine71.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel1,59971.9%Beats 95%A
2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class1 engine73.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Diesel1,60673.6%Beats 97%A
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class2 engines70.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel3,36069.4%Beats 94%A
4.0 Diesel1,61773.9%Beats 98%A

FAQ

What is the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class MOT pass rate?

78.9% of MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class were passed first time, based on 26,513 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2007–2016. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 66.0% of the time.

Is the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 96% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Mercedes-Benz GL-Class year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2011 GL-Class does best for its age and mileage: it beats 99% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 87%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, brake pipes comes up 1.6× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.