Used car guide

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLEs, from 4,837 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,837MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
9,200typical miles a year
7.2×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLEs than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Ball joint7.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz GLE
    4.3% All 2020 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2020 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.

Better than most

Brake discs: 3.3% here, against 9% of all 2020 cars.

By area

The share of 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    9% 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.

  • 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Steering
    2% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,531Tyres 28%
20214,547Tyres 29%
20193,419Tyres 26%
20185,697Tyres 28%
20174,467Tyres 28%
20165,324Tyres 29%
20151,260Tyres 25%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLEs registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score