2013 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
24,162 MOT tests on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Ml are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2013 Ml comes out 3.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (4.5%) 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 841 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.2% versus 8.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (12.9% vs 10.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,087 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 1,083 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 846 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 718 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 458 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 422 |
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 | 841 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 687 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 552 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 543 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 341 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 283 |
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 | 23.0% | 5,558 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 3,547 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 1,641 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 1,195 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.2% | 1,022 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 937 |
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 | 267 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,423 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 9,152 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,548 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,787 | 16.3% |
| 150k+ | 978 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,524 | 12.9% |
| Petrol | 638 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,938 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 4,881 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 4,918 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 4,795 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 4,630 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ml
On a 2013 Ml, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.5% 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 24,162 2013 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.5%).
Does the 2013 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,162 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.