MOT performance
Mercedes-Benz GLA petrol: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 79,961 MOT tests on petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs in 2023–2024 (on average 4.2 years old at test, median 30,960 miles), 88.0% passed first time, against 83.1% of 83,381 diesel Mercedes-Benz GLA tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs failed 19% less often than comparable cars — 0.81× against 0.82× for the Mercedes-Benz GLA as a whole.
79,961 MOT tests on 41,135 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 88.0% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 79,961 |
| All Mercedes-Benz GLAs | 85.6% | n = 165,835 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.81× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Mercedes-Benz GLA overall 0.82× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 4.6% | n = 79,961 |
| Average age at test | 4.2 years | n = 79,961 |
| Registration years covered | 2014–2022 | DVSA first-use date |
Petrol against the other Mercedes-Benz GLA fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel). The petrol cars were tested 2.1 years younger on average than the diesel ones, so the raw pass rates partly reflect age; the adjusted column doesn't.
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 83,381 | 6.3 yrs | 83.1% | -18% | 5.1% |
| Petrol | 79,961 | 4.2 yrs | 88.0% | -19% | 4.6% |
| Hybrid | 2,493 | 2.4 yrs | 90.5% | -10% | 2.8% |
Where petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs differ
- Steering: petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs failed 75% more often than the Mercedes-Benz GLA overall, relative to comparable cars (0.28× vs 0.16×).
- Body, chassis and structure: petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs failed 44% more often than the Mercedes-Benz GLA overall, relative to comparable cars (1.81× vs 1.26×).
- Suspension: petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs failed 40% less often than the Mercedes-Benz GLA overall, relative to comparable cars (0.54× vs 0.90×).
- Seat belts and airbags: petrol Mercedes-Benz GLAs failed 27% less often than the Mercedes-Benz GLA overall, relative to comparable cars (0.75× vs 1.03×).
| Area | Petrol (vs similar) | All Mercedes-Benz GLAs (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.9% (-2%) | 5.1% (-8%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.3% (-32%) | 2.4% (-28%) |
| Brakes | 2.2% (-18%) | 2.4% (-31%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.9% (-46%) | 2.3% (-50%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.9% (+81%) | 1.2% (+26%) |
| Suspension | 0.9% (-46%) | 2.7% (-10%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.6% (-10%) | 1.3% (+1%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.3% (-25%) | 0.4% (+3%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% (+30%) | 0.3% (+21%) |
| Road wheels | 0.2% (+29%) | 0.3% (+13%) |
Most common petrol Mercedes-Benz GLA failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.89% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.44% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.24% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.01% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 0.83% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | petrol pass rate (tests) | diesel pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 89.4% (43,238) | 89.2% (8,438) |
| 5-6 | 85.1% (22,331) | 84.7% (32,275) |
| 7-8 | 85.3% (4,580) | 79.8% (32,245) |
| 9-10 | 85.3% (1,118) | 79.4% (7,197) |
Mercedes-Benz GLA by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 80.8%
- 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 80.3%
- 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 81.4%
- 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 83.8%
- 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 86.2%
- 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 88.1%
- 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 91.1%
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA · 91.3%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific petrol Mercedes-Benz GLA
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
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.