Mercedes-Benz Gla
From 110,029 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Glas fare better: 2020 models pass at 91.3% vs 85.7% for 2014.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 1,896 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 | 1,896 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,822 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,626 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,286 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,209 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,150 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 907 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 762 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 637 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 569 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 28.2% of Gla failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 29.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £110.
The warranty question
A new Gla passes its MOT 91.3% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 85%, a 6.3 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. With an average repair bill of £110 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Gla that's past its third birthday.
Mercedes-Benz Gla on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 11,635 newly registered in the past year with 734 leaving, a net gain of 10,901. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 108,461 | 1,637 | +2,895 | -487 | +2,408 |
| 2025 Q2 | 106,051 | 1,639 | +2,025 | -135 | +1,890 |
| 2025 Q1 | 104,188 | 1,612 | +3,328 | -44 | +3,284 |
| 2024 Q4 | 100,963 | 1,553 | +3,387 | -68 | +3,319 |
| 2024 Q3 | 97,736 | 1,461 | +2,173 | -730 | +1,443 |
| 2024 Q2 | 96,352 | 1,402 | +1,589 | -0 | +1,608 |
| 2024 Q1 | 94,779 | 1,367 | +2,812 | -100 | +2,712 |
| 2023 Q4 | 92,093 | 1,341 | +1,539 | -50 | +1,489 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gla 180 Urban Edition Auto | Petrol | 7,832 | 14% |
| Gla 200 Amg Ln Executve Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 5,749 | 10% |
| Gla 220 Amg Line Prem + D 4M A | Diesel | 3,952 | 7% |
| Gla 180 Amg Line Edition Auto | Petrol | 3,818 | 7% |
| Gla 180 Urban Edition | Petrol | 3,152 | 6% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line Executive A | Petrol | 2,993 | 5% |
| Gla 200 Amg Lne Premium Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,745 | 5% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line Edition + A | Petrol | 2,625 | 5% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line Premium Auto | Petrol | 2,581 | 5% |
| Gla220 Amgline Prem+Cdi 4Mat A | Diesel | 2,489 | 4% |
| Gla 220 Amg Line Prem D 4Mat A | Diesel | 2,195 | 4% |
| Gla 200 Sport Executive Auto | Petrol | 2,129 | 4% |
| Gla 250 Amg Line Executive E A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,052 | 4% |
| Gla 220 D 4Mat Amg Line Prem A | Diesel | 2,024 | 4% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line Auto | Petrol | 2,016 | 4% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line Executive D A | Diesel | 1,973 | 3% |
| Gla 220 D 4Mat Amg Line Prem+A | Diesel | 1,934 | 3% |
| Gla 200 Amg Line D Auto | Diesel | 1,739 | 3% |
| Gla 200 Sport Executive D Auto | Diesel | 1,722 | 3% |
| Gla 200 Sport Executive Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,579 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 91.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2019 | 89.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 88.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 86.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
3 earlier years
| 2016 | 85% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 84.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 85.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Glas tested had between 50,539 and 75,150 miles on the clock.
At 57,906 median miles, the Gla has 0.023 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Gla MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Gla has a 86.7% MOT pass rate based on 110,029 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Gla?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Gla is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 1,896 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Mercedes-Benz Glas are on UK roads?
There are 108,461 Mercedes-Benz Glas currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,637 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Gla at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Gla is 57,906 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 50,539 and 75,150 miles.
Buying a used Gla?
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.