Mercedes-Benz GL 2008: MOT failure rate for its age
26.1% of 945 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz GL first registered in 2008 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 95.3 (95% CI 83.4–107.1; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2008 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 26.1 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 945 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 83.4–107.1) | 95.3 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 945 |
| Rank among this model's 11 build years | 2 | of 11 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 945 |
| Tested in 2024 | 233 | tests | median 122,014 miles | 2024 | 233 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL fail at each age?
Cars built in 2008 were tested at ages 11 to 16 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 98 (rough estimate) | 25.5 | 17.9–35 | 20.2 | 126.6 |
| 12 | 84 (rough estimate) | 33.3 | 24.2–43.9 | not available | not available |
| 13 | 332 (rough estimate) | 26.8 | 22.3–31.8 | not available | not available |
| 14 | 325 (rough estimate) | 23.4 | 19.1–28.3 | 28.8 | 81.2 |
| 15 | 289 (rough estimate) | 26 | 21.2–31.3 | 30.1 | 86.1 |
| 16 | 233 (rough estimate) | 30.5 | 24.9–36.7 | 25.3 | 120.6 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,361 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2008 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 20.4 items per 100 first tests, against 11 across all build years of the Mercedes-Benz GL. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2008 were tested at ages 11 to 16.
| Failure group | Built 2008, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 20.4 | 11 | 277 |
| Brakes | 19.8 | 8.7 | 270 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.2 | 5.9 | 111 |
| Suspension | 7.9 | 3.5 | 108 |
| Visibility | 7.3 | 5.2 | 100 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,361 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2008 compare with the years around it?
Among the 11 published build years of the Mercedes-Benz GL, 2008 ranks 2 (1 = fails least for its age). 2007: index 102.3. 2009: index 110.8.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 94.0 | 77.8–110.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 487 |
| 2007 | 102.3 | 94.5–110.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,270 |
| 2008 | 95.3 | 83.4–107.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 945 |
| 2009 | 110.8 | 92.8–128.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 480 |
| 2010 | 108.5 | 90.3–126.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 569 |
| 2011 | 123.9 | 106.5–141.3 | worse (rough estimate) | 883 |
| 2012 | 116.2 | 92.5–140.0 | no different (rough estimate) | 447 |
| 2013 | 105.9 | 97.2–114.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,109 |
| 2014 | 99.4 | 91.1–107.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,296 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 88.3–103.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,800 |
| 2016 | 103.6 | 89.0–118.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,138 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 17,424 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Mercedes-Benz GL 2008 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mercedes-gl/2008/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz GL 2006 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2007 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2009 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2010 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2011 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2012 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2013 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2014 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2015 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2016 · Mercedes-Benz GL in Norway · Mercedes-Benz GL in Finland · Mercedes-Benz GL in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz GL by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz GL body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz GL brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz GL vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz GL lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz GL noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz GL road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz GL seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz GL steering failures · Mercedes-Benz GL suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz GL tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz GL visibility failures