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

The Mercedes-Benz GLC records 0.79 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 3.68 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.89, 95% interval −2.96 to −2.82). It ranks 438 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 GLC by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz GLC is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 510 times in 2019–2024.

Mercedes-Benz GLC: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	510	0.17
A lens defective which has no effect on emitted light	374	0.13
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources	329	0.11
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	162	0.05
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements	119	0.04

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 299,023 (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

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

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

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