Mercedes-Benz Ml
From 66,240 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Mls fare better: 2015 models pass at 86.1% vs 69.7% for 2000.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 2,069 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,069 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,038 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 993 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 945 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 864 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 854 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 845 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 816 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 791 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 756 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 20.8% of Ml failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43.9% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £129.
Mercedes-Benz Ml on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 2,754 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 7 newly registered, a net loss of 2,747. At this rate, roughly 13.6 years until none remain. Now at 57.9% of its peak (64,597 in 2015 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 26,301 | 11,122 | +4 | -546 | -542 |
| 2025 Q2 | 27,067 | 10,898 | +2 | -598 | -596 |
| 2025 Q1 | 27,896 | 10,665 | +1 | -774 | -773 |
| 2024 Q4 | 28,681 | 10,653 | +0 | -836 | -836 |
| 2024 Q3 | 29,531 | 10,639 | +2 | -692 | -690 |
| 2024 Q2 | 30,376 | 10,484 | +2 | -689 | -687 |
| 2024 Q1 | 31,291 | 10,256 | +1 | -681 | -680 |
| 2023 Q4 | 32,230 | 9,997 | +4 | -627 | -623 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ml250 Amg Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 2,852 | 14% |
| Ml350 Amg Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 2,241 | 11% |
| Ml 320 Cdi Sport A | Diesel | 1,891 | 9% |
| Ml350 Spt Cdi Blueef-Cy A | Diesel | 1,696 | 8% |
| Ml250 Amg Line Prem Bluetec A | Diesel | 1,301 | 6% |
| Ml270 Cdi Auto | Diesel | 1,238 | 6% |
| Ml350 Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 1,178 | 6% |
| Ml300 Sport Cdi Blue-Cy A | Diesel | 906 | 4% |
| Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto | Diesel | 847 | 4% |
| Ml250 Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 810 | 4% |
| Ml 320 Cdi Se Auto | Diesel | 801 | 4% |
| Ml350 Amg Line Prem Bluetec A | Diesel | 793 | 4% |
| Ml350 Grd Edn Cdi B-Eff A | Diesel | 670 | 3% |
| Ml250 Se Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 658 | 3% |
| Ml350 Blue-Cy Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 566 | 3% |
| Ml 320 Auto | Petrol | 514 | 3% |
| Ml300 Blue-Cy Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 430 | 2% |
| Ml300 Grd Edn Cdi B-Eff A | Diesel | 383 | 2% |
| Ml350 Auto | Petrol | 370 | 2% |
| Ml350 Amg Line Prem+ Bluetec A | Diesel | 362 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 86.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2014 | 85.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 85.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 83.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
13 earlier years
| 2011 | 77% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2010 | 78.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 77% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 75.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 73.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2006 | 76.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2005 | 69.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2004 | 67.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2003 | 69.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 71.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 69.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 68.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Mls tested had between 75,344 and 137,070 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 112,685 median miles, the Ml has 0.019 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Ml has a 79.1% MOT pass rate based on 66,240 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Ml?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Ml is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 2,069 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Mercedes-Benz Mls are on UK roads?
There are 26,301 Mercedes-Benz Mls currently licensed on UK roads, with 11,122 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Ml at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Ml is 112,685 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 75,344 and 137,070 miles.
Buying a used Ml?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 79.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £129 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.