Mercedes-Benz Gls: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz Gls passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,986 individual Mercedes-Benz Gls tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.8 points
Tests analysed1,986
Average mileage at test60,267 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank926 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz Gls 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 Gls tested had covered 60,267 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mercedes-Benz Gls sits 11.8 points above the national average, ranked 926 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 Gls 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Mercedes-Benz Gls at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Gls

  1. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 1.1% of tests (5.97x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.8% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.2% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.5% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3% of tests
  6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.3% of tests
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.2% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
  9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.4% of tests
  10. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.4% of tests

From 1,995 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz Gls tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.87% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz Gls defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mercedes-Benz Gls

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mercedes-Benz Gls before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 6% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.2% of tests, also fails
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.1% of tests, also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.7% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 6.5% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.6% of tests
  7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.2% of tests
  8. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.4% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.4% of tests
  10. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.3% of tests

From 1,995 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz Gls tests, 2024.

Mercedes-Benz Gls pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2019 model year, the Mercedes-Benz Gls's first-time pass rate has risen 1 points, from 88.6% to 89.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mercedes-Benz Gls year:

Mercedes-Benz Gls 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 Gls MOT pass rate badge: 88.5%

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Mercedes-Benz Gls most common MOT failure: Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements (1.1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate