Does the Mercedes-Benz GLA fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz GLA records 1.57 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.56 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.99, 95% interval −3.06 to −2.92). It ranks 445 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 GLA by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz GLA is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 1,159 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,159 | 0.33 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 763 | 0.22 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 664 | 0.19 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 658 | 0.19 |
| A lens defective which has no effect on emitted light | 198 | 0.06 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.7% of Mercedes-Benz GLA MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,218 miles later (1,394 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,394 (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 brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA vehicle identification 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