2025 MOT results
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class common problems
The most common reason a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class fails its MOT is a tyre worn below the legal limit, on 22.2% of its 4,284 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 7 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a non-standard number plate at 3.7% of failures against 0.8% expected; a braking fault at 3.6% of failures against 1.0% expected; a tyre worn below the legal limit at 22.2% of failures against 10.4% expected.
- Tests in 2025 33,118 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 12.9% 4,284 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 5.6% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 36.2% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 22.2% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 16.2% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 11.1% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.2% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 6.4% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 5.4% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 4.2% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.7% |
| Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements Identification of the vehicle | 3.7% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 3.7% |
| Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator Brakes | 3.6% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 3.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Tyre worn below the legal limit
22.2% of failures 10.4% expected 2.1 times as often
A tyre worn past the 1.6mm legal minimum across the middle three quarters of the tread.
A 20p coin in the main grooves: if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is close to the limit.
-
Cut tyre
16.2% of failures 10.4% expected 1.6 times as often
A cut in the tyre deep or long enough to reach the structure underneath, usually from a kerb or debris.
Run a hand round the inner and outer walls of each tyre, which is where kerbing shows.
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Tyre worn through to the cords
11.1% of failures 6.6% expected 1.7 times as often
The tyre is worn or damaged far enough to expose the cords underneath, which is a dangerous defect.
Run a hand round the inner and outer walls of each tyre, which is where kerbing shows.
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Engine management light on
7.2% of failures 4.5% expected 1.6 times as often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
-
Broken coil spring
6.4% of failures 5.2% expected somewhat more often
A broken suspension spring, which usually snaps in the bottom coil and often fails on both sides within a year.
Look at each corner for a sagging ride height, and listen for a knock over speed bumps.
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Worn brake pads
5.4% of failures 8.9% expected 1.7 times less often
Friction material worn under 1.5mm, thinner than the point most manufacturers call the limit.
Look through the wheel spokes at the pad against the disc; wear indicators squeal before they get this far.
Which parts of the car fail
Tyres is the area that most often fails a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, on 52.4% of failed tests. That is also where it differs most from cars of the same registration years, which record 34.6%.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 52.4% |
| Suspension | 12.7% |
| Brakes | 11.0% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.8% |
| Visibility | 9.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.7% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 4.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
36.2% of Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Mercedes-Benz GLE-Classes, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 20.4% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 6.4% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 3.2% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 3.1% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 2.7% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 2.5% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 2.4% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 1.7% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 1.6% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 1.0% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.0% |
| Transmission oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What changes as a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class gets older
A 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class failed 12.8% of its MOT tests in 2025; a 2016 one failed 14.0%. What fails changes as much as how often, and these are the two years themselves rather than an average across them.
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 12.8% failed, from 3,496 tests
- Tyre worn below the legal limit 28.3%
- Cut tyre 21.8%
- Tyre worn through to the cords 12.9%
- Headlamp aim set too high 9.6%
- Worn steering or suspension joint 5.8%
- Non-standard number plate 4.9%
2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 14.0% failed, from 5,319 tests
- Tyre worn below the legal limit 17.4%
- Cut tyre 13.0%
- Tyre worn through to the cords 11.9%
- Broken coil spring 11.5%
- Engine management light on 9.9%
- Worn brake pads 6.3%
Shares are of each year's failed tests. Every MOT a particular car has had, with the defects and advisories written at each test, is on GOV.UK's MOT history service from the registration, free.
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm” is the most common: it appears on 22.2% of failed Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class tests. Across categories, tyres is the area that most often fails one, on 52.4% of failed tests.
How often does a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class fail its MOT?
12.9% of Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 33,118 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 64 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class than on other cars?
Yes. “Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements” appears on 3.7% of its failures against 0.8% for cars of the same age, and “Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator” appears on 3.6% of its failures against 1.0% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 33,118 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.