MOT performance
Ford EcoSport vs Mercedes-Benz GLA: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 79.5% of 200,751 Ford EcoSport MOT tests and 85.6% of 165,835 Mercedes-Benz GLA tests passed first time — 6.1 points in favour of the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Mercedes-Benz GLA fails less often than the Ford EcoSport: 0.82× against 1.24× the national rate for comparable cars.
200,751 Ford EcoSport and 165,835 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests, 2023–2024
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Ford EcoSport: first-time pass rate | 79.5% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 200,751 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA: first-time pass rate | 85.6% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 165,835 |
| Ford EcoSport: failures vs similar cars | +24% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA: failures vs similar cars | -18% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Ford EcoSport: dangerous defect | 4.6% | n = 200,751 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA: dangerous defect | 4.8% | n = 165,835 |
| Average age at test | 5.2 vs 5.2 years | Ford EcoSport vs Mercedes-Benz GLA |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The Mercedes-Benz GLA was tested at an older average age (5.2 years against 5.2), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is steering, where the Ford EcoSport fails 9.6 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Ford EcoSport | Mercedes-Benz GLA |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.4% (+44%) | 2.4% (-31%) |
| Steering | 0.9% (+55%) | 0.1% (-84%) |
| Suspension | 1.2% (-57%) | 2.7% (-10%) |
| Tyres | 4.9% (-2%) | 5.1% (-8%) |
| Road wheels | 0.1% (-40%) | 0.3% (+13%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 10.1% (+142%) | 2.3% (-50%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.5% (+86%) | 1.2% (+26%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.1% (-8%) | 2.4% (-28%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.9% (+87%) | 1.3% (+1%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.3% (+1%) | 0.4% (+3%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.1% (-37%) | 0.3% (+21%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Ford EcoSport | Mercedes-Benz GLA |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 86.2% (n = 72,207) | 89.4% (n = 52,552) |
| 5-6 years | 79.1% (n = 64,720) | 84.8% (n = 54,606) |
| 7-8 years | 70.3% (n = 45,504) | 80.4% (n = 36,825) |
| 9-10 years | 64.4% (n = 7,119) | 80.2% (n = 8,315) |
Most common failure item
- Ford EcoSport · stop lamp: not working (4.82% of tests)
- Mercedes-Benz GLA · tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1.92% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.