Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz Glc (2018)

19,930 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.7% first-time pass rate

2018 Mercedes Benz Glc

CarHunch analysed 19,930 real MOT records for the 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC is genuinely reliable, with a 90.6% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average by over 10 percentage points. However, 18.5% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth factoring into your inspection—petrol versions hold a slight edge over diesel at 92.0% versus 90.2% pass rates.

These GLCs average just 42,000 miles at test, suggesting well-maintained examples in the used market, though each vehicle typically racks up 0.6 failures and 4.3 advisories per MOT, pointing to wear on suspension and trim items rather than fundamental mechanical problems. Before buying, ask the seller for the full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the suspension and any previous dangerous defect recordings.

The 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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
90.7%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
18.5%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.6
Over 5.5 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
42k
Middle half: 33k–53k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 90.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 19,930 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 19,930 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 33.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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 21.5%
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 13.3%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
Suspension & steering 8.9%
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 19,930 Mercedes Benz Glc cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

92%
Petrol
4,830 vehicles
90.3%
Diesel
15,100 vehicles

Before you buy a 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc

Based on MOT data from 19,930 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.5% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (76%) 15,100 90.3% 0.64
Petrol (24%) 4,830 92% 0.5

Colour Breakdown

Based on 70,652 Mercedes Benz Glc vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 32%
22,592
Grey 23.2%
16,379
White 18.4%
12,966
Blue 14.4%
10,145
Silver 9.2%
6,498
Red 2.7%
1,915
Brown 0.2%
145
Multi-colour 0%
6
Green 0%
6

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc 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.

42,091
typical
32,793
low mileage
53,125
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc vehicles fall between 32,793 and 53,125 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 32,793 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.
32,793–53,125 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mercedes Benz Glcs sit.
Over 71,718 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Mercedes Benz Glc — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mercedes Benz Glcs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 18,050 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

19,142 18,050 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.6
Avg failures per vehicle
4.3
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mercedes Benz Glc: All Glc years → Which year to buy? →
2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Mercedes Benz Glc stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?