Mercedes Benz Glc MOT Failures
An analysis of 558,385 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mercedes Benz Glc — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: X253.1 (2015–2019), X253.2 (2019–2024).
Where the Mercedes Benz Glc fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mercedes Benz Glc is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — this model is 13 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 558,385 MOT tests, 2.44% of all Mercedes Benz Glc tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated (171x the fleet average), brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (6.4x the fleet average), emissions failure (5.7x the fleet average), and tyre cords visible or damaged (5.3x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mercedes Benz Glc's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Brakes, Exhaust & Emissions, Tyres and others. If you're inspecting a Mercedes Benz Glc before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Mercedes Benz Glc's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Mercedes Benz Glc specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated (114x the average) and headlight fault (18x). suspension ball joints worn (7.7x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (5.9x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Mercedes Benz Glc specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are service brake efficiency below minimum requirement (7.9x the average) and transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated (7.6x). transmission joint, belt or chain worn (7.5x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (5.4x) also appear frequently.
The shift from transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated at lower mileages to service brake efficiency below minimum requirement at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
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Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Mercedes Benz Glc specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Transmission flexible coupling deterioration (X253) Major
The flexible coupling in the transmission driveline connects the transmission output to the propshaft on 4WD variants. Affects X253.1, X253.2; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,500.
Suspension component wear (X253)
Multiple suspension components including control arm bushes, anti-roll bar links, and ball joints show accelerated wear on GLC models.. Affects X253.1, X253.2; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.
Accelerated brake pad wear (X253)
GLC models show unusually high brake pad wear rates, particularly on 2.0 petrol variants where MOT failures occur at 41.2 times the fleet average for worn brake pads. Affects X253.1, X253.2; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.
Engine management light activation (X253)
Diesel GLC models show significantly higher rates of engine management light (MIL) activation, with 2.1-litre diesel variants failing MOT tests at The trend is worsening. Affects X253.1, X253.2; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£500.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Mercedes Benz Glc common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Mercedes Benz Glc
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mercedes Benz Glc:
Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint worn, suspension ball joints worn. Bodywork — check for transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated. Brakes — check for brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about transmission flexible coupling deterioration and suspension component wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
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Mercedes Benz Glc MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Benz Glc?
Based on 558,385 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is suspension pin, bush or joint worn — at 13x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated and brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator.
Is the Mercedes Benz Glc reliable based on MOT data?
The Mercedes Benz Glc has 9 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag transmission flexible coupling deterioration as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include suspension pin, bush or joint worn, transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated, brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator.
How do I check a Mercedes Benz Glc's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.