3,170 tests in 2025
Mercedes-Benz G-Class reliability and MOT pass rate
89.7% passed first time. The 10.3% fail rate is 12.3 points better than the all-car average, on a median example 6 years old with 39,647 miles.
MOT pass rates / Mercedes-Benz
Pass rate
89.7%
22.6% of all cars failed; 10.3% of these did.
Fixed on the day
2%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
39,647 mi
6 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 1,323 | 7.2% |
| 6-9 years | 1,175 | 10.6% |
| 10-13 years | 420 | 15.2% |
| 14+ years | 242 | 17.4% |
What the G-Class fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Tyres78 dangerous35.7%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment2 dangerous25.5%
- Brakes39 dangerous20%
- Visibility12.3%
- Noise, emissions and leaks11.4%
- Suspension11.1%
- Steering4 dangerous9.8%
- Identification of the vehicle8.3%
Is the G-Class getting worse?
The fail rate fell 1.1 points to 10.6% from 2022 to 2025, against a rising rate across all cars.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,958 | — | 11.7% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 2,365 | — | 10.8% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 2,279 | — | 11% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 2,751 | — | 10.6% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical G-Class at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a G-Class in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords56 tests
- 2Coil spring: fractured or broken28 tests
- 3Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick26 tests
- 4Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively23 tests
- 5Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements22 tests
- 6Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19 tests
- 7Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction19 tests
- 8Position lamp: not working17 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical G-Class collects 2.33 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm216 tests
- 2Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick133 tests
- 3Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure115 tests
- 4Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened100 tests
- 5Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine94 tests
- 6Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre60 tests
- 7Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords58 tests
- 8Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn48 tests
Questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class MOT pass rate?
89.7% of the 3,170 Mercedes-Benz G-Class first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 10.3% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 2% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Mercedes-Benz G-Class usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords", recorded on 56 failed tests, followed by "Coil spring: fractured or broken" and "Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick". By section, tyres appears in 35.7% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 25.5% of failures, brakes appears in 20% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 7.2%; at 14+ years it was 17.4%. The median Mercedes-Benz G-Class tested in 2025 was 6 years old with 39,647 miles.
Is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class getting less reliable?
The fail rate fell 1.1 points to 10.6% from 2022 to 2025, against a rising rate across all cars.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every G-Class trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 38 safety recalls naming the Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Mercedes-Benz G-Class recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Checking a particular G-Class?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.