Used car guide · 2006–2019

Mercedes-Benz GL common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz GL, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 10,417 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

10,417MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
3,618on the UK register
2010best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201920162015201420132012201120102009200820072006

What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz GL?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mercedes-Benz GL in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mercedes-Benz GL MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    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 oil leaks

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2013.

    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.

Mercedes-Benz GL MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL did best (79% passed first time, 19 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2016 did worst (84%, 7 points above all 2016 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201984%85% -1151 (small sample)
201684%77% +7666
201584%74% +101,897
201484%70% +141,597
201383%67% +161,509
201280%64% +16285 (small sample)
201179%62% +17805
201079%60% +19584
200971%59% +12531
200872%57% +15728
200774%57% +171,375
200674%56% +18289 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mercedes-Benz GL

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GL as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GL as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GL as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz GL?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score