MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Mercedes-Benz GL fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The Mercedes-Benz GL records 11.00 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 17.80 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−6.80, 95% interval −7.38 to −6.23). It ranks 560 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz GL by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz GL is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 326 times in 2019–2024.

Mercedes-Benz GL: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources3261.59
Reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface2181.06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning2101.02
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning1900.93
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements1850.90

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 20,497 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Mercedes-Benz GL 2006 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2007 · Mercedes-Benz GL 2008 · 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 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