2002 · 22 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2002 Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate and common faults

831 MOT tests in 2024. 63.2% passed first time, compared with 58.1% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time63.2%
Failed or needed repairs36.8%
Typical mileage at test130,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 831 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.9%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.0%
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.6%
  5. Position lamp: not working2.5%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    33 marked dangerous
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.3%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  9. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics30.1%
  2. Brakes18.4%
  3. Suspension14.3%
  4. Steering9.6%
  5. Body & chassis8.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.4%
  7. Tyres5.2%
  8. Emissions & leaks4.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine29.8%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded24.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.8%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML?

In 2024, 63.2% of 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML cars passed their MOT first time, across 831 tests. The average for all 22-year-old cars was 58.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; coil spring: fractured or broken; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).