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

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 Gl?

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 Gl?

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.

How many 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl reliable?

Based on MOT data from 258 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.3%, 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 Gl?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (47.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (47.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (44% 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 Gl?

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.

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Mercedes Benz Gl (2016)

258 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.3% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz Gl

CarHunch analysed 258 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 GL passes MOT at 87.9%, which is a solid 7.9 percentage points ahead of the UK average, suggesting good overall durability for the model. However, nearly one in three of these vehicles (32.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for potential buyers and warrants a pre-purchase inspection.

These GLs are running at a median of 55,369 miles for their age, which is reasonable, and they rack up an average of 6.1 advisories per test alongside 0.96 failures, pointing to gradual wear rather than catastrophic issues. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase history check focusing on the nature of any dangerous defects recorded, as this will tell you whether you're looking at isolated incidents or a pattern affecting the model.

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

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

88.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

32.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.96

Over 6.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 43k–74k

For context

These stats describe 258 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 258 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 47.1%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside 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 22.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 18.1%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

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 258 Mercedes Benz Gl cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl

Based on MOT data from 258 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.6% 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
Diesel (88%)	228	87.9%	0.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,555 Mercedes Benz Gl vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 44.3%

2,019

Silver 25.5%

1,161

White 12.6%

575

Grey 9.6%

436

Blue 5%

227

Brown 1.6%

Red 1.1%

Green 0.2%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl 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.

55,369

typical

43,053

low mileage

74,247

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl vehicles fall between 43,053 and 74,247 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 43,053 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.

✓ 43,053–74,247 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz Gls sit.

⚠ Over 100,233 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 Gl — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz Gls are still on the road.

Strong survival — 212 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* 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

6.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.96

Avg failures per vehicle

6.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Watch for defects — worth knowing