2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,466 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.7% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (89.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.4% in the 150k+ group versus 6.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,949 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.5% | 499 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 354 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 338 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 327 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 260 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,128 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 543 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 318 |
| 4 | Joints | 313 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 275 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 233 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.9% | 7,316 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 3,753 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 2,115 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 1,029 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 990 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 352 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 8,839 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 16,967 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,318 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,122 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 175 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,334 | 9.5% |
| Petrol | 2,752 | 7.8% |
| Hybrid | 380 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,173 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 6,837 | 8.5% |
| 2023 | 6,641 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 6,497 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 6,318 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 GLE
Before buying a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (1.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLEs pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 33,466 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.5%).
Does the 2018 GLE get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,466 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.