1999 · 25 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1999 Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate and common faults

183 MOT tests in 2024. 60.7% passed first time, compared with 63.3% for all cars the same age.

96Below average
Passed first time60.7%
Failed or needed repairs39.3%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 183 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.6%
  2. Side repeaters: not working4.4%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.4%
  4. Stop lamp: not working3.8%
  5. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.8%
    12 marked dangerous
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.8%
  8. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements2.7%
  9. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.7%
  10. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics36.6%
  2. Brakes24.0%
  3. Suspension14.8%
  4. Body & chassis8.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.1%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.6%
  7. Steering5.5%
  8. Seat belts & airbags4.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine38.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.8%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn18.0%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All ML years2000 ML →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML?

In 2024, 60.7% of 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML cars passed their MOT first time, across 183 tests. The average for all 25-year-old cars was 63.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; side repeaters: not working; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 96, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).