Mercedes-Benz Gl
From 5,188 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Gls fare better: 2019 models pass at 93% vs 90% for 2013.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 115 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.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 115 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 85 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 81 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 49 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 48 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 40 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 37 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 34 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 30 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 29 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.7% of Gl failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 45.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £119.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 91.2% while Diesel versions pass at 84.9%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Mercedes-Benz Gl on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 114 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 114. At this rate, roughly 32.6 years until none remain. Now at 80.3% of its peak (4,544 in 2016 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,917 | 730 | +0 | -28 | -28 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,975 | 700 | +0 | -15 | -15 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,985 | 705 | +0 | -46 | -46 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,043 | 693 | +0 | -25 | -25 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,118 | 643 | +0 | -0 | +5 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,164 | 592 | +1 | -39 | -38 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,209 | 585 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,274 | 556 | +2 | -47 | -45 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gl350 Bluetec Amg Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 903 | 32% |
| Gl350 Amg Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 649 | 23% |
| Gl320 Cdi 4-Matic A | Diesel | 356 | 13% |
| Gl350 Blueefficiency Cdi Auto | Diesel | 300 | 11% |
| Gl420 Cdi 4-Matic A | Diesel | 236 | 8% |
| Gl63 Amg Auto | Petrol | 204 | 7% |
| Gl350 Blueeffic Cdi A | Diesel | 174 | 6% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 93% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2016 | 86.8% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 87.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2014 | 90.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
7 earlier years
| 2013 | 90% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2012 | 85.1% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 79.8% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 84.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 71.8% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2008 | 81.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 78.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Gls tested had between 60,023 and 122,099 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 83,327 median miles, the Gl has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Gl MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Gl has a 86.2% MOT pass rate based on 5,188 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Gl?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Gl is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 115 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Mercedes-Benz Gls are on UK roads?
There are 2,917 Mercedes-Benz Gls currently licensed on UK roads, with 730 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Gl at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Gl is 83,327 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 60,023 and 122,099 miles.
Buying a used Gl?
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.