Mercedes Benz Gle MOT Failures
An analysis of 68,831 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mercedes Benz Gle — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: W166 (2015–2019), W167 (2019–2024).
Where the Mercedes Benz Gle fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mercedes Benz Gle is brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator — this model is 6.7 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 68,831 MOT tests, 0.97% of all Mercedes Benz Gle tests recorded this as a failure.
Brake failures on the MOT range from worn pads and discs (routine maintenance) to corroded brake lines and seized calipers (more serious). Check for any pulling under braking and listen for grinding.
Other notable weak points include window tint too dark (11x the fleet average), any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (8.2x the fleet average), reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of ... (6.7x the fleet average), and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the req... (5.5x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mercedes Benz Gle'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 5 categories: Brakes, Wipers & Windscreen, Wheels, Lights & Electrics, Tyres. If you're inspecting a Mercedes Benz Gle 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 Gle'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 Gle specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are window tint too dark (11x the average) and brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (6.7x). reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of ... (6.7x) and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the req... (5.5x) 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 Gle specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (8.2x the average) and brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (5.9x). brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (5.5x) and brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm also appear frequently.
The shift from window tint too dark at lower mileages to any fracture or welding defect on a wheel 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.
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 Gle specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Excessive brake pad wear (W166/W167)
GLE models show accelerated brake pad wear compared to typical SUVs, with MOT data indicating pad wear 4-7x the fleet average across multiple engine variants. Affects W166, W167; typical independent garage repair cost is £180–£280.
CV joint boot deterioration (W166)
W166 GLE models with diesel engines show premature CV joint boot failure at 4x the fleet average failure rate. Affects W166; typical independent garage repair cost is £120–£200.
Brake disc wear (W166/W167)
GLE brake discs wear at nearly 3x the fleet average, particularly on higher-mileage examples. Affects W166, W167; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£500.
Engine management light - emission system faults (W166/W167)
Diesel GLE models show engine management light illumination at 1 and 3.0 diesel variants. Affects W166, W167; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Mercedes Benz Gle common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Mercedes Benz Gle
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mercedes Benz Gle:
Brakes — check for brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. Wipers & Windscreen — check for window tint too dark. Wheels — check for any fracture or welding defect on a wheel. Lights & Electrics — check for reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of ....
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about excessive brake pad wear and cv joint boot deterioration. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £180. 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.
Looking at a specific Mercedes Benz Gle?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Mercedes Benz Gle MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Benz Gle?
Based on 68,831 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator — at 7x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include window tint too dark and any fracture or welding defect on a wheel.
Is the Mercedes Benz Gle reliable based on MOT data?
The Mercedes Benz Gle has 6 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag excessive brake pad wear 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 brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, window tint too dark, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel.
How do I check a Mercedes Benz Gle'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.