2012 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ml passed 84.3% of its 13,548 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.2 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 17.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (5.1%) 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 737 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.8% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.8% | 784 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 693 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.7% | 634 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 566 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 337 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.2% | 303 |
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 | 737 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 519 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 358 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 333 |
| 5 | Joints | 236 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 227 |
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 | 22.8% | 3,082 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 2,102 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 1,120 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 1,045 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 1,020 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 853 |
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 | 113 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,378 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,802 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,653 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,952 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 645 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,212 | 15.7% |
| Petrol | 336 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,826 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 2,754 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 2,725 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 2,668 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 2,575 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ml
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% 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
How many 2012 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 13,548 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Suspension, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.1%).
Does the 2012 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,548 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.