2011 Mercedes-Benz Ml — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,429 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Ml, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 80.5% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (80.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.6% in the 150k+ group versus 10.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,529 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 1,166 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 1,060 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 839 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 526 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 375 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,015 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 631 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 496 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 447 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 415 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 401 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.8% | 3,906 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 3,487 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 2,021 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.7% | 1,598 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 1,265 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 1,133 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 57 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,024 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,683 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,312 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,194 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,156 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,351 | 19.5% |
| Petrol | 78 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,574 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 3,450 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 3,361 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 3,166 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 2,878 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ml
Before buying a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Ml, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (6.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2011 Mercedes-Benz Mls pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 16,429 2011 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Ml?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2011 Ml get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,429 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.