Mercedes Ml320cdi MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 221 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 21.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes Ml320cdi MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes Ml320cdi is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 221 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.3% and a failure rate of 21.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes Ml320cdi earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Mercedes Ml320cdi presents for MOT with approximately 82,474 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 88.1%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 68.8%. This 19.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes Ml320cdi is Brakes, affecting 16.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Tyres at 14.0%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment rounds out the top three at 10.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 19.0% | 42 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 36 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.5% | 32 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 18 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 0.9% | 2 |
| 7 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.5% | 1 |
| 8 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.5% | 1 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 0.5% | 1 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.5% | 1 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.5% | 1 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.5% | 1 |
| 13 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.5% | 1 |
| 14 | Driver's View Of The Road | 0.5% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 82,474 miFor 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.30 | 19.0% | 42 |
| Brakes | 1.98 | 16.3% | 36 |
| Tyres | 1.76 | 14.5% | 32 |
| Suspension | 0.99 | 8.1% | 18 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.27 | 2.3% | 5 |
| Wheels | 0.11 | 0.9% | 2 |
| Body & Structure | 0.10 | 1.0% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Steering | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Visibility | 0.05 | 0.5% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes Ml320cdi has 82,474 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes Ml320cdi has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.63% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes Ml320cdi MOT Data
The Mercedes Ml320cdi is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 221 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.3% and a failure rate of 21.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes Ml320cdi owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Ml320cdi is likely to perform.
Brakes — 16.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 16.3% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Ml320cdi. 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 — 14.0% of failures
Tyres issues account for 14.0% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Ml320cdi. 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.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.4% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 10.4% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Ml320cdi. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes Ml320cdi?
Based on 221 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes Ml320cdi has an overall pass rate of 78.3% (21.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Ml320cdi?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes Ml320cdi fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (16.3%), 2. Tyres (14.0%), 3. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (10.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes Ml320cdi reliable?
With a 21.7% MOT failure rate, the Ml320cdi is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes Ml320cdi?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (16.3%); Tyres (14.0%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (10.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.