Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz GLE reliability and common faults
Based on 33,509 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
11.2%
fail rate · average 15.0%
much better than average
30,786 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
30.9%
with defects · average 35.3%
much better than average
1,447 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
74.0%
first-time pass · average 75.7%
about average
1,276 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 GLE
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
Plates and identification
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Steering
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbags
Exhaust and emissions
Lights and electrics
Suspension
Brakes
Visibility
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 10.7% avg 9.9% | 24.1% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 11.5% avg 15.3% | 31.8% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 11.3% avg 22.9% | 38.8% avg 44.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | GLE | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 66.0% | 78.6% | 94 |
| 2019 | 83.9% | 83.2% | 62 |
| 2018 | 73.5% | 79.5% | 166 |
| 2017 | 74.5% | 76.6% | 294 |
| 2016 | 71.7% | 72.8% | 555 |
| 2015 | 85.9% | 71.1% | 78 |
Mercedes-Benz GLE – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLE?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz GLE fails 11.2% of MOT tests, against an average of 15.0% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 30.9% of APK inspections (average there 35.3%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 74.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 75.7%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz GLE?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: body and structure, plates and identification, steering, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz GLE?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less. 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).