Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc?

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 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc?

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 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc?

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 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,828 vehicles, the 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17.5% 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 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc?

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 Glc (2021)

2,828 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.1% first-time pass rate

2021 Mercedes Benz Glc

CarHunch analysed 2,828 real MOT records for the 2021 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC is a genuinely reliable performer, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.1% — well above the UK average of 80% — and only 7.1% of vehicles ever recording a dangerous defect, which is low enough that safety shouldn't be a primary concern. Both diesel and petrol variants hold nearly identical pass rates (94.0% and 94.6% respectively), so fuel choice won't materially affect reliability here.

These cars are running light at 33,202 miles median age-appropriate mileage, which explains why failures are rare at just 0.19 per vehicle and minor advisories average only 1.5. If you're buying one, check the service history carefully — these cars are clearly well-maintained by their owners — but don't lose sleep over the MOT record itself.

The 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (94.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

94.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

7.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.19

Over 2.3 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 25k–43k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 94.1% 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 1.5 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 2,828 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 2,828 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 23.5%

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 14.8%

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 9.5%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 3.8%

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 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,828 Mercedes Benz Glc cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc

Based on MOT data from 2,828 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 7.1% 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 (87%)	2,451	94.1%	0.19
Petrol (13%)	375	94.6%	0.17

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

Green 0%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 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.

33,202

typical

25,306

low mileage

42,529

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc vehicles fall between 25,306 and 42,529 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,306 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.

✓ 25,306–42,529 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Mercedes Benz Glcs sit.

⚠ Over 57,414 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Mercedes Benz Glc — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Mercedes Benz Glcs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,680 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 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.19

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

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Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Mercedes Benz Glc stacks up against a rival.

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