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2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto models manufactured in 2008, based on 685 real MOT test results.

77.4%
Pass Rate
22.6%
Fail Rate
685
Total Tests
58,814
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

This page shows all Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto cars tested in 2008. Want to see how cars built in 2008 hold up over time?

View 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto vintage page → (71.3% current pass rate)

2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto MOT Analysis

The 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto has an MOT pass rate of 77.4% based on 685 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 58,814 miles on the odometer. With a 22.6% failure rate, the 2008 Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, responsible for 5.0% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Brakes is the second most common issue at 4.1%. Tyres follows at 1.5%.

Top failures specific to 2008 models only. The overall Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment5.0%34
2Brakes4.1%28
3Tyres1.5%10
4Suspension1.3%9
5Non-component Advisories0.3%2
6Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems0.1%1
7Driver's View Of The Road0.1%1
8Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions0.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 58,814 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Lamps & Electrical0.84% per 10K miBrakes0.70% per 10K miTyres0.25% per 10K miSuspension0.22% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.05% per 10K miSeat Belts0.02% per 10K miVisibility0.02% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.02% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical0.845.0%34
Brakes0.704.1%28
Tyres0.251.5%10
Suspension0.221.3%9
Non-component advisories0.050.3%2
Seat Belts0.020.1%1
Visibility0.020.1%1
Emissions & Exhaust0.020.1%1

Mileage Statistics

58,814
Mean
36,081
Median
30,932
25th Percentile
53,112
75th Percentile
3.84% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto has an MOT pass rate of 77.4% based on 685 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 58,814 miles on the odometer. With a 22.6% failure rate, the 2008 Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. At 58,814 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 5.0% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 5.0% of MOT failures on 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Brakes — 4.1% of failures

Brakes issues account for 4.1% of MOT failures on 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Tyres — 1.5% of failures

Tyres issues account for 1.5% of MOT failures on 2008 Mercedes Ml 280 Cdi Sport Auto models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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