Does the Mercedes-Benz GLA fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz GLA records 2.67 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.34 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.67, 95% interval −1.74 to −1.60). It ranks 440 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mercedes-Benz GLA by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz GLA is “a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm”, recorded 4,859 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 4,859 | 1.38 |
| Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator | 1,865 | 0.53 |
| Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 959 | 0.27 |
| Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. | 296 | 0.08 |
| Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured | 293 | 0.08 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 353,008 (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
If a Mercedes-Benz GLA gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.4% of Mercedes-Benz GLA MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,780 miles later (32,085 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 32,085 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz GLA 2014 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2015 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2016 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2017 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2018 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2019 · Mercedes-Benz GLA 2020 · Mercedes-Benz GLA in Norway · Mercedes-Benz GLA in Finland · Mercedes-Benz GLA in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz GLA by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz GLA body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA steering failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA visibility failures