Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,041 vehicles, the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (38.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz Ml (2013)

5,041 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88% first-time pass rate

2013 Mercedes Benz Ml

CarHunch analysed 5,041 real MOT records for the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML passes its MOT first time at 87.9%, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a strong result. However, nearly 27% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and warrants a full inspection history check before purchase.

At 68,900 miles average, these are moderately used examples for their age—neither high-milers nor cherished garage queens. The average vehicle racks up 1.38 failures and 8.6 advisories per test, suggesting while major faults are relatively rare, wear items and minor issues are commonplace; budget for regular maintenance and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and electrical systems common to this generation.

The 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml has a decent first-time pass rate (88%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

26.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.38

Over 10.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 53k–83k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 8.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,041 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,041 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 43.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 28.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 15.2%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Suspension & steering 9.6%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,041 Mercedes Benz Ml cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml

Based on MOT data from 5,041 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (97%)	4,904	87.9%	1.39
Petrol (3%)	137	89.4%	1.15

Colour Breakdown

Based on 79,894 Mercedes Benz Ml vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 39.6%

31,654

Black 33.7%

26,910

Blue 12.5%

9,999

White 4.4%

3,520

Grey 3.5%

2,830

Green 3.5%

2,760

Red 1.5%

1,214

Beige 0.3%

278

Bronze 0.3%

269

Gold 0.3%

230

Brown 0.2%

187

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

67,380

typical

52,883

low mileage

83,488

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml vehicles fall between 52,883 and 83,488 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,883 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 52,883–83,488 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Mercedes Benz Mls sit.

⚠ Over 112,708 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Mercedes Benz Ml — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Mls are still being driven.

Strong survival — 3,940 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.38

Avg failures per vehicle

8.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Ml: All Ml years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Mercedes Benz Ml stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing