Mercedes-Benz G-Class: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,417 individual Mercedes-Benz G-Class tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate84.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+7.8 points
Tests analysed1,417
Average mileage at test54,126 miles
Average year of manufacture2014
Reliability rank1,275 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 16 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz G-Class presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Mercedes-Benz G-Class tested had covered 54,126 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Mercedes-Benz G-Class bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mercedes-Benz G-Class rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Mercedes-Benz G-Class actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz G-Class

  1. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 1% of tests (6.23x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.9% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
  3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2% of tests
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.3% of tests
  5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.1% of tests
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 0.6% of tests
  7. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.5% of tests
  8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.5% of tests
  9. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 0.4% of tests
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.4% of tests

From 4,352 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz G-Class tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.06% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz G-Class defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Mercedes-Benz G-Class year:

Mercedes-Benz G-Class by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Mercedes-Benz G-Class MOT pass rate badge: 84.5%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate