Diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class: MOT pass rate
83.1% of diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class pass the MOT first time, measured across 563 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 61,935.
Diesel against the other Mercedes-Benz G-Class versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 87% | 841 |
| Diesel | 83.1% | 563 |
| All Mercedes-Benz G-Class | 85.4% | 1,407 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Mercedes-Benz G-Class specifically, petrol is the strongest at 87%, and this diesel version sits 2.3 points below the 85.4% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class had covered 61,935 miles at test, against 49,995 for the petrol. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Most common MOT failures on a diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.8% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.5% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 2.6% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.5% of tests
- A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
- Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 1.8% of tests (9.51x the national rate for this defect)
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
From 569 DVSA-tracked diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class tests, 2024, split out from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.5% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.
Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.
- A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 4.4% of tests (9.22x the national rate for this defect)
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 5.3% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this defect)
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.9% of tests (2.9x the national rate for this defect)
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 9.1% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 14.8% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.3% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged, 11.6% of tests, also fails
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 5.3% of tests, also fails
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.7% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.2% of tests
From 569 DVSA-tracked diesel Mercedes-Benz G-Class tests, 2024.