Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz Gle (2017)

5,200 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.3% first-time pass rate

2017 Mercedes Benz Gle

CarHunch analysed 5,200 real MOT records for the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle. 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE passes its MOT first time at 91.3%, well above the UK average of 80%, which is genuinely strong. However, nearly a quarter of these vehicles (24.3%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for a used buyer and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At just under 48,500 miles on average, these cars are running light for their age, suggesting they've been well looked after. The typical GLE accumulates 0.66 failures and 4.8 advisories per test, pointing to minor wear items rather than structural problems—so budget for routine maintenance but don't expect major surprises if you buy one that has passed recently.

The 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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
91.3%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
24.4%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.66
Over 6.3 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
47k
Middle half: 36k–59k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 91.3% 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 4.8 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 5,200 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 5,200 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 38.1%
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 19.3%
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 11.7%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,200 Mercedes Benz Gle cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

92.6%
Petrol
619 vehicles
91.1%
Diesel
4,463 vehicles

Before you buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle

Based on MOT data from 5,200 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.4% 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 (86%) 4,463 91.1% 0.68
Petrol (12%) 619 92.6% 0.53
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (2%) 118 92.9% 0.55

Colour Breakdown

Based on 33,154 Mercedes Benz Gle vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 36.1%
11,962
Grey 18.3%
6,075
Blue 14.6%
4,832
White 14.3%
4,732
Silver 14.1%
4,662
Red 2.2%
740
Green 0.3%
101
Brown 0.1%
42
Purple 0%
8

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle 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.

47,311
typical
36,385
low mileage
59,389
high mileage

Half of all 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle vehicles fall between 36,385 and 59,389 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 36,385 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.
36,385–59,389 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Mercedes Benz Gles sit.
Over 80,175 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Mercedes Benz Gle — Still on the Road

Most 2017 Mercedes Benz Gles are still being driven.

Strong survival — 4,295 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% of the peak.

4,897 4,295 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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
0.66
Avg failures per vehicle
4.8
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mercedes Benz Gle: All Gle years → Which year to buy? →
2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gle stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?