2000 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Mercedes-Benz Ml passed 72.6% of its 3,505 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 24.9% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 350 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.6% versus 20.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.5% of the time against 27.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 454 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 437 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.7% | 269 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 232 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 180 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 350 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 226 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 204 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 188 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 185 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 164 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 42.3% | 1,484 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.2% | 1,235 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 30.9% | 1,083 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 816 |
| 5 | Tyres | 23.1% | 809 |
| 6 | Other defects | 19.4% | 680 |
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 | 116 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 360 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 809 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,081 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,117 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,241 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 1,260 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,107 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 851 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 645 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 514 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 388 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Ml
On a 2000 Ml, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (12.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2000 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 3,505 2000 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by brakes (13.0%).
Does the 2000 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.7% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,505 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.