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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT fail rate and common faults

How Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2018 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 24,092 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 7 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 7 (n=5,724)13.7%
All cars at 7 years (n=10,537,318)20.6%
Difference−6.9 pts
MOT tests of 2018 cars, 2022 to 202524,092

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 7 years old, Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2018 failed 13.7% of MOTs (5,724 tests), 6.9 points below the 20.6% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 4 to 7 years old, the fail rate moved from 10.6% to 13.7%.
  • Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used a year earlier, in 2017, failed 14.3% at the same age of 7 years (4,606 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz GLE at 7 years, is coil spring broken, at 1.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.6).

MOT fail rate by test year

Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2018: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20224 years10.6%6,33413.4%−2.8 pts
20235 years11.4%6,10215.3%−3.9 pts
20246 years13.2%5,93217.8%−4.6 pts
20257 years13.7%5,72420.6%−6.9 pts

Most common faults at 7 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=17,231). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.32.2
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear2.11.3
Tyre with cords exposed Wear1.91.1
Coil spring broken1.21.6
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear0.92.0
Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault0.80.6
Driveshaft CV boot split0.70.6
Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator Wear0.60.2
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear0.61.0
Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements Wear0.50.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=17,231). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.015.0
Brake pads wearing thin Wear7.39.0
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.18.0
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively4.02.6
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated3.00.5
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.82.4
Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear2.82.0
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear2.31.5
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view2.21.9
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.22.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=17,231). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 7 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=17,231). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel90.3%13.5%15,56022.1%60,337 miles
Petrol8.0%10.8%1,38519.6%52,105 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 7 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=17,231). At 7 years, Mercedes-Benz GLE cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (18.1%, n=1,542) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (12.1%, n=7,793). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles12.1%7,79319.2%
60,000 to 90,000 miles14.1%6,61624.2%
90,000 to 120,000 miles18.1%1,54228.0%

Car tax rules for a 2018 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Hybrids follow the Euro standard of their petrol or diesel engine.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz GLE

Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2018

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018)7 years in 202517.4%41,45520.6%
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2018)7 years in 202516.1%28,52020.6%
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2018)7 years in 202516.1%20,91320.6%
Mercedes-Benz GLC (2018)7 years in 202515.8%19,00420.6%
Mercedes-Benz GLA (2018)7 years in 202518.1%16,46620.6%
Mercedes-Benz CLA (2018)7 years in 202519.9%8,44220.6%
Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2018)7 years in 202516.4%3,99820.6%
Mercedes-Benz Citan (2018)7 years in 202537.9%3,53220.6%

More on the Mercedes-Benz GLE

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.