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Mercedes Ml 250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes Ml 250 car check

Is the Mercedes Ml 250 reliable? We analysed 7,460 real MOT tests across 589 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,460 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.3%
Typical Mileage
78,586mi
Annual Mileage
7,524mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
20yrs

The Mercedes Ml 250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, tyre has ply or cords exposed and coil spring broken. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes Ml 250.

Mercedes Ml 250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes Ml 250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes Ml 250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes Ml 250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.1%
2013
83.4%
2012
82%
2011
76.4%
2010
79.1%
2009
77.8%
2008
77.2%
2007
75.4%
2006

Mercedes Ml 250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes Ml 250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 78
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 57
coil spring broken 42
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 31

Mercedes Ml 250 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes Ml 250 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 88

Mercedes Ml 250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes Ml 250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,963 mi/yr
Typical
7,524 mi/yr
Average
8,467 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,904 mi/yr

Mercedes Ml 250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes Ml 250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 188 85.1% 43,769 65,318 89,757
2012 4,417 83.4% 48,822 72,776 97,820
2011 410 82.0% 63,012 85,206 108,648
2010 661 76.4% 58,345 83,894 114,105
2009 369 79.1% 51,692 79,800 105,441
2008 446 77.8% 60,088 89,010 117,856
2007 562 77.2% 62,650 96,474 123,706
2006 325 75.4% 72,502 100,390 131,495

How Long Does a Mercedes Ml 250 Last?

Based on 589 Mercedes Ml 250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.0 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
20 years

Mercedes Ml 250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes Ml 250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
78,586 mi
75th Percentile
105,530 mi
95th Percentile
147,217 mi
Max Recorded
398,098 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes Ml 250

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

Best year
2013

85.1% MOT pass rate from 188 tests

Year to avoid
2006

75.4% MOT pass rate from 325 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes Ml 250 is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.1% across 188 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes Ml 250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes Ml 250 THIS CAR 81.3% 7,460 78,586 mi 20 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
Mazda CX-5 Sport Auto 90.8% 6,559 27,346 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mercedes Motorhome (76.7% pass rate) and the Mercedes Unknown (79.2% pass rate), the Mercedes Ml 250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes Ml 250?

The Mercedes Ml 250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 7,460 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 Ml 250 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (78 recorded failures), tyre has ply or cords exposed (57), and coil spring broken (42). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes Ml 250 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mercedes Ml 250 owner drives around 7,524 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 Ml 250 models stay on UK roads for around 20 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 Ml 250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes Ml 250 reliable?
Based on 7,460 MOT tests, the Mercedes Ml 250 has a 81.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes Ml 250?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, tyre has ply or cords exposed, and coil spring broken. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes Ml 250 do per year?
The typical Mercedes Ml 250 does around 7,524 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes Ml 250 last?
Most Mercedes Ml 250 models stay on UK roads for around 20 years based on our analysis of 589 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes Ml 250?
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 Ml 250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes Ml 250 is 2013 with a 85.1% pass rate across 188 tests.