2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate and common faults

1,277 MOT tests in 2024. 56.2% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time56.2%
Failed or needed repairs43.8%
Typical mileage at test129,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,277 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play8.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.5%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.7%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.8%
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.5%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.4%
  7. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.4%
  8. Stop lamp: not working3.3%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.8%
    48 marked dangerous
  10. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour2.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics38.1%
  2. Suspension21.8%
  3. Brakes21.5%
  4. Steering14.3%
  5. Body & chassis7.6%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.0%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.2%
  8. Tyres4.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine31.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded22.9%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.6%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.5%
  5. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz ML?

In 2024, 56.2% of 2004 Mercedes-Benz ML cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,277 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz ML?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz ML reliable at MOT time?

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