2014 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
22,157 MOT tests on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Ml are in this dataset, and 86.7% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (15.0% fail rate), the 2014 Ml comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 898 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.5% versus 8.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.3% fail against 13.4% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 22,157 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,143 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 875 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 863 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 505 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 470 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 372 |
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 | 898 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 569 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 499 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 475 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 373 |
| 6 | Washers | 256 |
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 | 23.5% | 5,199 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 3,125 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 1,419 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 884 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 790 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 731 |
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 | 507 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,148 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,290 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,206 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,541 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 461 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,309 | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 848 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,466 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 4,485 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 4,420 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 4,439 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 4,347 | 14.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Ml
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.9% 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 22,157 2014 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2014 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,157 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.