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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT fail rate and common faults

How Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2020 did at their MOTs from 2023 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 15,481 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 5 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 5 (n=5,010)11.5%
All cars at 5 years (n=9,425,360)15.3%
Difference−3.8 pts
MOT tests of 2020 cars, 2023 to 202515,481

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 5 years old, Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2020 failed 11.5% of MOTs (5,010 tests), 3.8 points below the 15.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2023 to 2025, as these cars went from 3 to 5 years old, the fail rate moved from 11.0% to 11.5%.
  • Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used a year earlier, in 2019, failed 12.1% at the same age of 5 years (3,467 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz GLE at 5 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 0.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Mercedes-Benz GLE cars first used in 2020: 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
20233 years11.0%5,30012.1%−1.1 pts
20244 years10.5%5,17113.4%−2.9 pts
20255 years11.5%5,01015.3%−3.8 pts

Most common faults at 5 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 5 years: cars first used 2017 to 2020, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=19,340). 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 Wear2.81.7
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.91.4
Tyre with cords exposed Wear1.30.9
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear0.71.7
Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator Wear0.60.2
Driveshaft CV boot split0.50.2
Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements Wear0.50.1
Headlight aimed too high Wear0.50.6
Wipers not clearing screen Wear0.42.1
Suspension ball joint worn0.40.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=19,340). 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 Wear16.813.5
Brake pads wearing thin Wear6.98.8
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.92.4
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.82.1
Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear2.71.9
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.42.2
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened2.36.4
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear2.11.7
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.91.6
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear1.78.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=19,340). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 5 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 5 years: cars first used 2017 to 2020, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=19,340). 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
Diesel85.4%11.8%16,51917.5%44,131 miles
Petrol7.8%9.5%1,50114.2%37,796 miles
Hybrid6.8%11.0%1,31912.4%42,105 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 5 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz GLE MOTs at 5 years: cars first used 2017 to 2020, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=19,340). At 5 years, Mercedes-Benz GLE cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (13.4%, n=3,213) than those at under 30,000 miles (7.8%, n=3,466). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles7.8%3,46611.1%
30,000 to 60,000 miles12.1%12,16716.2%
60,000 to 90,000 miles13.4%3,21320.8%

Car tax rules for a 2020 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 2020

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2020)5 years in 202512.4%36,22715.3%
Mercedes-Benz GLC (2020)5 years in 202510.2%11,28515.3%
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2020)5 years in 202513.6%10,50415.3%
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2020)5 years in 202514.2%10,21715.3%
Mercedes-Benz GLA (2020)5 years in 202510.2%9,07315.3%
Mercedes-Benz CLA (2020)5 years in 202515.5%8,01715.3%
Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2020)5 years in 20259.9%2,93415.3%
Mercedes-Benz Citan (2020)5 years in 202530.4%1,33115.3%

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 2020 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.