2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 89.8% of Mercedes-Benz GLAs first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. Across 27,623 GLA first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, brakes and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz GLAs first used in 2020 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
89.8%
of 9,028 first tests; all cars first used in 2020: 86.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
27,623
first tests, 2023–2025; 9,028 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
59.6%
of 9,028 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
34,000
middle half: 25,000–44,500 miles; all cars first used in 2020: 37,500

How the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, GLAs first used in 2020 against all cars first used in 2020 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the GLA figure was 3.8 points higher.

2020 GLAAll cars first used in 2020
80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2020, test year 2021: 84.7%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2022: 90.2%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2023: 87.7%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2024: 86.9%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2025: 86%2020 GLA, test year 2022: 92.1%2020 GLA, test year 2023: 91.3%2020 GLA, test year 2024: 91%2020 GLA, test year 2025: 89.8%89.8%86%
View this chart as a table
Test year2020 GLAAll cars first used 2020GLA first tests
2021fewer than 500 tests84.7%8
202292.1%90.2%533
202391.3%87.7%9,380
202491.0%86.9%9,215
202589.8%86.0%9,028

Common 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT failures

Share of the 2,570 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres42.2%
Brakes19.5%
Visibility19.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment12.8%
Suspension6.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.7%
Body, chassis, structure3.5%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords16.8%431
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%333
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.8%328
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively11.0%282
Headlamp aim: too low6.4%164

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2020 GLAs, as a share of all 27,623 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.8%3,256
Brake pads: wearing thin7.3%2,003
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.4%1,760
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.5%697
Nail in tyre2.5%688

Questions about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA?

In 2025, 89.8% of GLAs first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2020 GLA most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 42.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (19.5%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (19.4%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (16.8%).

How often does a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA fail its MOT?

In 2025, 10.2% of first tests on GLAs first used in 2020 did not pass first time: 8.6% failed, and a further 1.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,570 of 27,623 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 11.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.3%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (6.4%), “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (2.5%) and “Nail in tyre” (2.5%).

Is a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 92.1% in 2022 to 89.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2020

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2020 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2020 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2020 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2020 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2020 GLA” means a Mercedes-Benz GLA whose date of first use falls in 2020 (69, 20 and 70 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2020, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.