Used car guide

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLAs, from 16,404 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

16,404MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
7,300typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLAs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz GLA
    4.5% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Individual direction indicators8.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz GLA
    3.3% All 2018 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Link ball joint covers7× usual
    Mercedes-Benz GLA
    2.1% All 2018 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Brakes
    19% 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.

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    7% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    5% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,760Tyres 21%
20218,759Tyres 22%
20208,982Tyres 27%
201916,743Tyres 32%
201712,764Tyres 29%
201610,579Tyres 29%
20158,798Tyres 30%
20143,429Tyres 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLAs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score