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Mercedes Ambulance Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Mercedes Ambulance reliable? We analysed 2,964 real MOT tests across 240 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,964 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.8%
Typical Mileage
183,655mi
Annual Mileage
23,772mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Mercedes Ambulance is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, registration plate lamp not working and anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes Ambulance.

Mercedes Ambulance Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes Ambulance. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes Ambulance MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes Ambulance to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.6%
2012
81.7%
2011
83.9%
2010
87.7%
2009
83.4%
2008
83.2%
2007
94.9%
2006
97.3%
2005
89.7%
2004
85%
2003

Mercedes Ambulance Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes Ambulance fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 46
Registration plate lamp not working 23
Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 16
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 16
Brake pipe excessively corroded 13
Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush 12
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 12
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 12
Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush 12

Mercedes Ambulance Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes Ambulance owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
13,290 mi/yr
Typical
23,772 mi/yr
Average
26,651 mi/yr
Heavy usage
40,073 mi/yr

Mercedes Ambulance MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes Ambulance year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 193 87.6% 94,881 168,500 218,980
2011 213 81.7% 131,191 225,384 335,413
2010 316 83.9% 121,050 211,538 281,311
2009 739 87.7% 101,222 184,867 245,601
2008 295 83.4% 90,461 197,114 301,107
2007 523 83.2% 121,639 226,562 301,325
2006 78 94.9% 88,207 149,523 203,321
2005 147 97.3% 44,426 132,341 193,838
2004 136 89.7% 74,276 114,480 180,147
2003 147 85.0% 101,653 167,057 219,803

How Long Does a Mercedes Ambulance Last?

Based on 240 Mercedes Ambulance vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.6 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Mercedes Ambulance Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes Ambulance MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
183,655 mi
75th Percentile
254,778 mi
95th Percentile
375,217 mi
Max Recorded
680,877 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes Ambulance

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

97.3% MOT pass rate from 147 tests

Year to avoid
2011

81.7% MOT pass rate from 213 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes Ambulance is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.3% across 147 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes Ambulance Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes Ambulance THIS CAR 85.8% 2,964 183,655 mi 23 yrs
Mercedes Motorhome 76.7% 14,848 66,873 mi 45 yrs
Mercedes Unknown 79.2% 11,881 102,484 mi 39 yrs
Mercedes Camper 74.6% 8,342 82,260 mi 47 yrs
Mk Indy 86.6% 1,740 6,272 mi 38 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes Motorhome (76.7% pass rate) and the Mercedes Unknown (79.2% pass rate), the Mercedes Ambulance outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes Ambulance?

The Mercedes Ambulance has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% across 2,964 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Mercedes Ambulance are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (46 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (23), and anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (16). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mercedes Ambulance owner drives around 23,772 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Mercedes Ambulance models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mercedes Ambulance — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes Ambulance reliable?
Based on 2,964 MOT tests, the Mercedes Ambulance has a 85.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes Ambulance?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, registration plate lamp not working, and anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes Ambulance do per year?
The typical Mercedes Ambulance does around 23,772 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes Ambulance last?
Most Mercedes Ambulance models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 240 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes Ambulance?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes Ambulance?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes Ambulance is 2005 with a 97.3% pass rate across 147 tests.