Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% 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 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle reliable?

Based on MOT data from 6,238 vehicles, the 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (38.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.5% 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 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle?

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 Gle (2018)

6,238 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Mercedes Benz Gle

CarHunch analysed 6,238 real MOT records for the 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 GLE is a solid performer, passing its MOT on the first try 90.9% of the time—well above the UK average of 80%. However, nearly one in four owners (22.8%) have encountered a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for a buyer and worth factoring into your inspection checklist.

These cars are running at modest mileage for their age, averaging 44,959 miles, and they're generating relatively few serious failures (0.58 per vehicle) but more minor advisories than typical (4.2 per vehicle). Before purchasing, get a full pre-buy inspection focused on the suspension, brakes, and electrical systems, since recurring advisories often point to where costs accumulate on older Mercedes models.

The 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.9%) — 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

90.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

22.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.58

Over 5.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

44k

Middle half: 34k–55k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.9% 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 4.2 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 6,238 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 6,238 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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 6,238 Mercedes Benz Gle cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

92.4%

Petrol

543 vehicles

90.8%

Diesel

5,621 vehicles

Before you buy a 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle

Based on MOT data from 6,238 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.8% 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 (90%)	5,621	90.8%	0.6
Petrol (9%)	543	92.4%	0.45
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (1%)	74	90.5%	0.59

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%

Purple 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 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.

43,642

typical

33,589

low mileage

55,486

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mercedes Benz Gle vehicles fall between 33,589 and 55,486 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 33,589 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.

✓ 33,589–55,486 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mercedes Benz Gles sit.

⚠ Over 74,906 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 Gle — Still on the Road

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

Strong survival — 5,484 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

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

0.58

Avg failures per vehicle

4.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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

Average reliability — agree?