Does the Mercedes-Benz GLA fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz GLA records 3.33 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 3.52 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.19, 95% interval −0.25 to −0.13). It ranks 271 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Mercedes-Benz GLA by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz GLA is “A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated”, recorded 4,312 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 4,312 | 1.22 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 3,204 | 0.91 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 3,122 | 0.88 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 899 | 0.25 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 59 | 0.02 |
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 suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
13.3% of Mercedes-Benz GLA MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 8,747 miles later (1,850 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,850 (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 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 tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz GLA visibility failures