Used car guide

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLAs, from 10,579 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,579MOT tests in 2025

77%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)

7,700typical miles a year

9.6×the usual rate for link ball joint covers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLAs than on all cars registered in 2016.

Link ball joint covers9.6× usual

Mercedes-Benz GLA
6.7% All 2016 cars
0.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 0.4% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Ball joint2× usual

Mercedes-Benz GLA
5.5% All 2016 cars
2.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Ball joint dust cover2× usual

Mercedes-Benz GLA
3.4% All 2016 cars
1.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Individual direction indicators3.5× usual

Mercedes-Benz GLA
2.1% All 2016 cars
0.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Engine warning light1.8× usual

Mercedes-Benz GLA
2.7% All 2016 cars
1.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.4% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 0.5% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Tyres

29% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Suspension

21% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Brakes

21% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Lights and electrics

8% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

5% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Seats and seatbelts

3% of testsRough price £80–£250

At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz GLA?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2022	4,760	Tyres 21%
2021	8,759	Tyres 22%
2020	8,982	Tyres 27%
2019	16,743	Tyres 32%
2018	16,404	Tyres 31%
2017	12,764	Tyres 29%
2015	8,798	Tyres 30%
2014	3,429	Tyres 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLAs registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score