Used car guide · 2014–2026

Mercedes-Benz GLA common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz GLA, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 254,588 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

254,588MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
120,023on the UK register
3known faults across all years
2014best 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).

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014

What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz GLA?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

Common Mercedes-Benz GLA 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.

Petrol

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 7.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

    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.

Diesel

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 9.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

    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 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.

    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.

Mercedes-Benz GLA MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA did best (80% passed first time, 10 points above all 2014 cars) and the 2019 did worst (87%, 2 points above all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202396%92% +4230 (small sample)
202292%89% +34,981
202192%87% +517,796
202091%87% +427,141
201987%85% +249,802
201885%83% +248,569
201782%80% +238,012
201680%77% +331,492
201579%74% +526,269
201480%70% +1010,296

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

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

  1. Have all the recalls been done? Can a Mercedes dealer confirm from the VIN?
  2. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 9.6× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GLA as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GLA as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the Mercedes-Benz GLA as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz GLA?

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