Used car guide

2014 Mercedes-Benz ML: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Mercedes-Benz MLs, from 3,787 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,787MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
8,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine warning light

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Mercedes-Benz MLs than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Engine warning light1.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz ML
    3% All 2014 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.6% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.8% here, against 8.2% of all 2014 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.1% here, against 5.7% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    18% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    10% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz ML?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20153,138Tyres 28%
20134,070Tyres 27%
20122,218Tyres 27%
20112,383Tyres 29%
20102,340Brakes 31%
20091,745Brakes 38%
20081,886Brakes 38%
20071,710Brakes 39%
20061,376Brakes 38%
2005771Suspension 49%
20041,006Suspension 55%
2003755Suspension 54%
2002653Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Mercedes-Benz MLs registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score