Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Mercedes Benz X?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz X?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz X?

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 2018 Mercedes Benz X vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 2018 Mercedes Benz X reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,517 vehicles, the 2018 Mercedes Benz X has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Mercedes Benz X?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mercedes Benz X are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.2% 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 2018 Mercedes Benz X?

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 X (2018)

1,517 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Mercedes Benz X

CarHunch analysed 1,517 real MOT records for the 2018 Mercedes Benz X. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz X passes its MOT at 84.9%, which is meaningfully better than the UK average of 80%, suggesting solid underlying reliability—though the 21.6% that have recorded a dangerous defect is a material concern and worth investigating on any used example you're considering. This is a truck designed for hard work, and that shows in the advisory count: at 4.6 per vehicle, owners should expect regular wear items to need attention.

At 53,565 miles median, these vehicles are running within typical expectations for their age, indicating neither exceptional longevity nor premature wear. The 0.95 average failures per vehicle is reassuring, so when buying, focus your pre-purchase inspection on the dangerous defect history (suspension, braking, steering) rather than expecting major structural problems—and budget for scheduled maintenance on consumables rather than surprise failures.

The 2018 Mercedes Benz X passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

84.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

21.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.95

Over 5.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

54k

Middle half: 40k–71k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.6 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 1,517 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,517 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 27.8%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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 21.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · …

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

Other issues 17.8%

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction · Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 11.2%

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault · Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,517 Mercedes Benz X cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Mercedes Benz X

Based on MOT data from 1,517 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.6% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,385 Mercedes Benz X vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 33.9%

1,486

White 21%

923

Grey 16.5%

724

Silver 13.5%

590

Blue 8.5%

371

Bronze 3.6%

157

Green 1.6%

Red 1.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Mercedes Benz X 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.

53,565

typical

39,729

low mileage

70,871

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mercedes Benz X vehicles fall between 39,729 and 70,871 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,729 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.

✓ 39,729–70,871 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mercedes Benz Xs sit.

⚠ Over 95,675 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Mercedes Benz X — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mercedes Benz Xs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,268 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.95

Avg failures per vehicle

4.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2017 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Mercedes Benz X stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?