Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 208 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19.4% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (18.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mercedes Benz G Class (2016)

208 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.4% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz G Class

CarHunch analysed 208 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Class passes its MOT first time in 89.4% of cases—a solid 9.4 percentage points above the UK average—which suggests these cars are being maintained to a reasonable standard. The dangerous defect rate of 10.6% is not alarming, but it's worth factoring into your pre-purchase inspection.

At 33,385 miles median, these G-Classes are running lower than typical for their age, which explains why the average car only racks up 0.83 failures per MOT. The typical advisory count of 4.9 items per test indicates routine wear rather than systemic problems, so budget for preventative work on suspension and trim rather than major structural issues—have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the cooling system and any evidence of rough gear changes, which are common trouble spots on this model.

We have limited data for the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.83

Over 6.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 23k–44k

For context

These stats describe 208 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 208 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 21.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 18.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 13.2%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Suspension & steering 6.7%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 208 Mercedes Benz G Class cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class

Based on MOT data from 208 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (59%)	122	90.7%	0.71
Diesel (41%)	86	87.5%	0.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,061 Mercedes Benz G Class vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 56.2%

1,158

Silver 10%

206

Grey 9.9%

204

White 9.1%

187

Blue 6%

124

Green 5.1%

105

Red 1.9%

Yellow 0.5%

Brown 0.5%

Beige 0.4%

Gold 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

33,385

typical

22,758

low mileage

44,239

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class vehicles fall between 22,758 and 44,239 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,758 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 22,758–44,239 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz G Classs sit.

⚠ Over 59,722 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz G Class — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz G Classs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 157 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 96% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

6.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.83

Avg failures per vehicle

4.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz G Class: All G Class years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz G Class stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?