Mercedes-Benz Ml 250 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 11 model years and 2,595 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Ml 250 passes its MOT 81.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 4.3pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and suspension (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 174 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.4% in the 30-60k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 12.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ml 250 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 36 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 106 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 110 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 116 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 213 | 74.7% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 164 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 1,758 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 71 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 203 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 186 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 133 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 93 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 72 |
| 7 | Visibility | 2.0% | 52 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 174 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 77 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 69 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 61 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 56 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 53 |
| 7 | Joints | 46 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.6% | 613 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 491 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 311 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 263 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 227 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 193 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 121 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 763 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 957 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 509 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 579 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 538 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 531 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 489 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 458 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Ml 250
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Ml 250?
81.8% of the 2,595 Mercedes-Benz Ml 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.2% fail rate, across model years 2005–2015.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Ml 250 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, then suspension (7.2%).
How much does mileage affect Ml 250 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 24.4% for 150k+, a 12.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,595 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.