Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 78,871 UK MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is brake pads (wearing thin): recorded on 4.5% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km), 3× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: malfunction indicator lamp (inoperative or indicates a malfunction) (3.3×); tyres (slightly damaged/cracking or perishing) (3.4×); ball joint (ball joint has slight play) (2.5×). The most common reasons a Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: wearing thin | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 4.5% | 1.5% | 3× | 9,288 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2013–2015 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 3.6% | 1.1% | 3.3× | 667 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 9.4% | 2.8% | 3.4× | 435 |
| Ball joint: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 3.3% | 1.3% | 2.5× | 845 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.5% | 2.1% | 1.7× | 7,511 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 4.6% | 2.9% | 1.6× | 7,511 |
| Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 9.4% | 5.9% | 1.6× | 2,755 |
Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 6,990 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (8.7%) | Brake pads: wearing thin (4.9%, 2.7×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 22,107 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 12,392 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | — |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3,523 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (8.3%, 1.7×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 870 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (6%, 1.7×) |
Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3,472 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (3.3×) |
| 2015 | 8,862 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2.6×) |
| 2016 | 10,609 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2.5×) |
| 2017 | 12,844 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.1×) |
| 2018 | 16,398 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.7×) |
| 2019 | 16,931 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.9×) |
| 2020 | 9,316 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.4×) |
| 2021 | 438 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (3×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class?
In 78,871 UK MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is brake pads (wearing thin): recorded on 4.5% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km), 3× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: malfunction indicator lamp (inoperative or indicates a malfunction) (3.3×); tyres (slightly damaged/cracking or perishing) (3.4×); ball joint (ball joint has slight play) (2.5×). The most common reasons a Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick).
Why do Mercedes-Benz Gla-Classs fail the MOT?
Across 78,871 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class were coil spring (fractured or broken) (3.1% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (2.8% of tests); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) (2.3% of tests).
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class problems start?
The clearest Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class-specific issue, brake pads (wearing thin), peaks against other cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) on 2019–2021 cars (4.5% of tests vs 1.5% for all cars that age).
Where does this Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 78,871 tests of the Mercedes-Benz Gla-Class. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.