Used car guide

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLEs, from 1,260 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,260MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
8,500typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for transmission oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLEs than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Transmission oil leaks4.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz GLE
    2.5% All 2015 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 6.4% here, against 13.4% of all 2015 cars. Coil springs: 1.9% here, against 5.4% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    15% 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
    6% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    5% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,531Tyres 28%
20214,547Tyres 29%
20204,837Tyres 26%
20193,419Tyres 26%
20185,697Tyres 28%
20174,467Tyres 28%
20165,324Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLEs registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score