Fault File
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Mercedes GLA

All generations and engines together · 87,749 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 59k

First-time failure at age 7
19.3%
Across 14,076 tests. The average across all tracked models is 19.5%.
Rank at age 7
137 of 239
1 = lowest failure rate among the models tracked.
Typical mileage at age 7
59k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

How this model wears

Mercedes GLAClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 52,019 tests in this band.

A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
Minor
4.6%class 1.1%
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
3.7%class 0.7%
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
3.2%class 0.6%
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Fail
2.7%class 1.4%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
2.4%class 0.9%
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
Fail
2.2%class 0.9%
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
2.1%class 0.3%
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
Minor
1.9%class 0.6%
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Advisory
1.1%class 1.3%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
26.5%class 22.9%
A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
17.0%class 12.7%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
11.6%class 8.7%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
11.4%class 10.1%
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Advisory
6.3%class 3.4%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
3.2%class 2.2%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Fail
2.9%class 2.2%
Nail in tyre
Advisory
2.5%class 1.6%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Timing chain wear and carbon buildup (petrol M270/M274)

Confirmed pattern

The 1.6 and 2.0 turbo petrol engines fitted to the early GLA (X156, 2014-2020) can wear their timing chain and tensioner early, and direct injection lets carbon build up on the intake valves over time. Symptoms are a rattly cold start, a whiny top end or a rough idle; specialists quote roughly £1,500-2,500 for a chain and tensioner job, more if the head has to come off for a carbon clean. Mercedes put out technical guidance on the tensioner and some early cars went out on a dealer recall letter, so there is a paper trail behind this one.

Reported from 40,000 miles · sources: mercedes-specialist.uk, forums.mercedesclub.org.uk, A-Class Owners Club (shared engine)

7G-DCT gearbox hesitation and low-speed judder

Automatic (DCT) only

Owners across both generations report a judder or hop between roughly 15 and 25mph, most noticeable pulling away from cold and sometimes described as feeling like a misfire. It doesn't always throw a fault code; forum fixes range from a gearbox oil change and adaptation reset to, in the worst cases, a new clutch pack. It only affects cars with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic, manual-gearbox GLAs are unaffected.

Reported from new to high mileage · sources: MBClub UK forum, ASR Gearbox Repairs, glaowners.com

MBUX screen freezes and blank reversing camera

Confirmed pattern

Early cars with the MBUX infotainment system, roughly 2019-2021, can freeze the central screen or, more seriously, show a blank image where the reversing camera picture should be. Mercedes-Benz issued a safety recall (21V354) covering this and pushed out a software fix, done free at a dealer or over the air on connected cars. A stuck screen usually clears with a steering-wheel button reset, or failing that a 12V battery disconnect.

Mostly 2019-2021 cars · fix is free · sources: NHTSA recall 21V354, Daytona Mercedes Service, owner forums

Front suspension knocks and clunks

Partly in the MOT data

A recurring complaint on owner forums: a knock or clunk from the front end over bumps or on tight turns, usually traced to ball joints, control arm bushes, drop links or a worn wheel bearing. The measured MOT data backs this up in outline, suspension is the standout fault category for this class of small SUV, though it doesn't say which specific part is wearing on the GLA. Expect roughly £150-400 per corner depending on what's actually worn.

Reported 40-80k miles · sources: glaowners.com, glaownersclub.co.uk, YourMechanic

Flat battery after the car sits unused

Emerging

The newer GLA (H247, 2020 on) runs a dual battery setup, a main 12V lead-acid battery plus a small lithium-ion cell for the stop-start system, and owners report it going flat within one to two weeks of standing on the drive. Suspects mentioned on forums include the Mercedes Me connectivity app, short journeys that never let the alternator top the battery back up, and badly wired aftermarket accessories. Not officially acknowledged as a fault, and a lead-acid battery drained too far can need replacing rather than just recharging, roughly £150-250 fitted.

Reported on cars used infrequently · sources: glaowners.com forum, MB Medic, MHH Auto forum

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle or whine from the top end before it settles. A persistent rattle points at the timing chain or tensioner on petrol cars, worth a specialist check before buying.
On the test drive, pull away gently and hold 15-25mph in a couple of gears. A judder or hop here is the classic DCT gearbox complaint. Check first whether the car is a manual or automatic.
Select reverse and check the camera image appears instantly and stays sharp. A blank or frozen image is the MBUX fault covered by recall 21V354; ask whether the recall has been actioned.
Turn the wheel lock to lock at walking pace and listen for knocks from the front end. Clunks here point at ball joints, bushes or drop links, and line up with the class-wide suspension weak spot in the MOT data.
Ask how often the car is driven and check the battery for a visible date or age sticker. A car that sits for long stretches on an old battery may need a replacement soon after purchase.
Check the service history for timing chain, tensioner or camshaft work, or a stamped recall. No record isn't proof it's fine, but a completed recall is reassurance.
Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail. Repeated suspension advisories on the same corner suggest a bodge rather than a proper fix.

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