Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz GLA reliability and common faults
Based on 75,643 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
16.7%
fail rate · average 17.8%
better than average
65,429 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
30.3%
with defects · average 39.0%
much better than average
8,865 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
77.1%
first-time pass · average 73.6%
better than average
1,349 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Mercedes-Benz GLA
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Body and structure
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identification
Exhaust and emissions
Suspension
Tyres
Brakes
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre insufficient tread
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 9Tyre pressure monitoring system warning indicator is on
- 10Brake lining carrier/fastener touching drum/disc
- 11Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 12Tyre pressure not equal on one axle
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 10.3% avg 9.9% | 23.4% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 15.5% avg 15.3% | 28.5% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 19.6% avg 22.9% | 34.5% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | — | 37.6% avg 55.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | GLA | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80.4% | 86.7% | 46 |
| 2019 | 88.6% | 83.2% | 131 |
| 2018 | 75.8% | 79.5% | 95 |
| 2017 | 80.9% | 76.6% | 136 |
| 2016 | 62.8% | 72.8% | 199 |
| 2015 | 73.7% | 71.1% | 429 |
| 2014 | 85.5% | 68.0% | 297 |
Mercedes-Benz GLA – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLA?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz GLA fails 16.7% of MOT tests, against an average of 17.8% for cars of the same age – better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 30.3% of APK inspections (average there 39.0%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 77.1% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 73.6%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz GLA?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: body and structure, seat belts and airbags.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz GLA?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Mercedes-Benz models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).