72.2%
Mercedes-Benz ML
Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate and common problems
The Mercedes-Benz ML passed 72.2% of its initial MOT tests in 2025, in line with the 72.3% UK average. The item testers recorded most often was coil spring fractured or broken.
Checking a specific car? Its own results, advisories and recorded mileages are in a free MOT history check.
How the ML compares
Initial MOT tests in 2025, retests excluded. A car that failed and was repaired at the test station counts as a fail.
77.1%
Mercedes-Benz average
72.3%
UK average, all cars
The ML runs 4.8 points behind the Mercedes-Benz average. It is 28th of the 35 Mercedes-Benz models in the data. The average ML arrived at its test 14.8 years old with 113,104 miles recorded.
A pass rate records whether cars met the roadworthiness standard on test day. It is not a reliability score, and part of any gap reflects how old the tested cars were.
ML MOT pass rate by age
The same 2025 tests split by the car's age at test.
Mercedes-Benz ML cars aged 6 to 10 years passed 81.1% of MOT tests. For cars aged 11 years and over that fell to 70.3%, a drop of 10.8 percentage points.
| Age at test | Tests | Pass rate | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 to 10 years | 5,191 | 81.1% | 8.8 pts above |
| 11 years and over | 24,057 | 70.3% | 2 pts below |
That is a typical decline as cars age. The UK average of 72.3% covers cars of every age, so compare like with like.
Where ML failures cluster
Every failure item recorded on Mercedes-Benz ML cars in 2025, grouped into the DVSA's test areas.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes together account for 46.6% of recorded failure items. These are recorded failures across the model, not faults every car has.
The 10 most common ML MOT failures
Specific items recorded on Mercedes-Benz ML cars that failed their 2025 MOT, as a share of all recorded failure items.
Together these 10 items make up 38% of everything testers recorded against failed Mercedes-Benz ML cars. The rest is spread across many smaller items, and one failed test often records several at once.
What to look at on a ML
The recorded failures above, grouped by area, biggest first.
1
Tyres
Recorded most often: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, condition has ply or cords exposed and condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. 9.6% of failure items.
2
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Recorded most often: position lamp not working and stop lamp not working. 9% of failure items.
3
Suspension
Recorded most often: coil spring fractured or broken. 7.8% of failure items.
4
Brakes
Recorded most often: rigid brake pipes excessively corroded and brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick. 5.2% of failure items.
The car's own MOT history matters more than any model average. A free MOT history check shows whether a specific ML has failed on these items before, or had them noted as advisories. Buying one? See the used Mercedes-Benz ML buying guide.
Already found one?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Mercedes-Benz ML MOT FAQs
What is the Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate?
72.2% of Mercedes-Benz ML cars passed their initial MOT first time in 2025, from 29,249 tests. That is in line with the 72.3% average for all cars, and ranks 311th of 575 models.
What does a Mercedes-Benz ML most commonly fail its MOT on?
The item testers recorded most often on Mercedes-Benz ML cars failing their 2025 MOT was coil spring fractured or broken, on 7.8% of failure items. Next were position lamp not working (4.9%) and stop lamp not working (4.1%).
Which area causes the most Mercedes-Benz ML MOT failures?
Across every recorded failure item, the largest area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 28.2%, followed by brakes at 18.4%.
Do older Mercedes-Benz ML cars fail their MOT more often?
Mercedes-Benz ML cars aged 6 to 10 years passed 81.1% of MOT tests in 2025, against 70.3% for cars aged 11 years and over.
Does this mean every Mercedes-Benz ML has these problems?
No. These are the items testers recorded across every Mercedes-Benz ML that failed in 2025. They show where the model most often needs attention, not the condition of any individual car.
How do I see a specific Mercedes-Benz ML's MOT history?
Enter its registration on the free Carpeep MOT history check to see that car's own test results, failures, advisories and recorded mileages.
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025: class 4 initial tests, retests excluded, with failure items from failed tests (advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability.