2007 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz Ml passed 78.6% of its 15,338 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.9%) and brakes (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 787 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Ml fails 18.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.4 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.1% fail against 21.7% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 15,338 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 1,972 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 1,676 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 991 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 699 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 533 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 428 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 787 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 701 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 694 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 642 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 581 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 455 |
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 | 33.6% | 5,151 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 27.3% | 4,182 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 3,767 |
| 4 | Suspension | 24.2% | 3,713 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 1,514 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 1,490 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 60 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 359 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,665 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,567 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,073 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,601 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,325 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 1,013 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,941 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 3,586 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 3,115 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 2,631 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 2,065 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Ml
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 (6.5% 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 2007 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 15,338 2007 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.9%).
Does the 2007 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,338 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.