2001 · 23 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2001 Mercedes-Benz ML MOT pass rate and common faults

469 MOT tests in 2024. 60.3% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

102About average
Passed first time60.3%
Failed or needed repairs39.7%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 469 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play5.1%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.5%
  3. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.1%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.2%
  6. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.0%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.8%
  8. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour2.6%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.6%
  10. Stop lamp: not working2.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics35.0%
  2. Brakes20.3%
  3. Suspension19.6%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.5%
  5. Steering7.7%
  6. Body & chassis6.0%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.8%
  8. Tyres4.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine27.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded22.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.3%
  5. Anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.1%

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.

← 2000 MLAll ML years2002 ML →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML?

In 2024, 60.3% of 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML cars passed their MOT first time, across 469 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; anti-roll bars - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).