Mercedes-Benz G-Class
From 4,003 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer G-Classs fare better: 2019 models pass at 95.2% vs 91.7% for 2016.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 75 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 75 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 53 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 43 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 35 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 26 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 26 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 21 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 20 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 18 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 39.4% of failures are serious: 26.6% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 12.8% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £89.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 32 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 15 newly registered, a net loss of 17.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,545 | 363 | +2 | -5 | -3 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,535 | 376 | +2 | -15 | -13 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,565 | 359 | +4 | -2 | +2 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,571 | 351 | +7 | -10 | -3 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,573 | 352 | +8 | -19 | -11 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,601 | 335 | +18 | -0 | +49 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,555 | 332 | +40 | -33 | +7 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,540 | 340 | +37 | -39 | -2 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G 400 Amg Line Prem + D 4M A | Diesel | 403 | 31% |
| G63 Amg Auto | Petrol | 218 | 17% |
| G 350 Amg Line Premium D 4M A | Diesel | 208 | 16% |
| G350 Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 141 | 11% |
| G 350 4Matic D Auto | Diesel | 125 | 10% |
| G 350 Night Edition D 4Matic A | Diesel | 102 | 8% |
| G 400 Amg Line Prem D 4Matic A | Diesel | 101 | 8% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 95.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 93.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2017 | 85% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2016 | 91.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
4 earlier years
| 2015 | 89% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 86.7% | brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2013 | 91.5% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 88.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a reversing lamp inoperative |
Typical mileage
Half of all G-Classs tested had between 24,464 and 56,544 miles on the clock.
At 44,865 median miles, the G-Class has 0.025 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has a 88.9% MOT pass rate based on 4,003 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 75 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Mercedes-Benz G-Classs are on UK roads?
There are 1,545 Mercedes-Benz G-Classs currently licensed on UK roads, with 363 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz G-Class at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz G-Class is 44,865 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 24,464 and 56,544 miles.
Buying a used G-Class?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.