2004 Mercedes-Benz Ml MOT pass rate: 66.0% (3,990 tests)
Is the 2004 Ml getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.5% +2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 65.3% +1.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 65.9% +0.6 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Ml
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,471 | 28.2% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,176 | 22.5% |
| 3 | Brakes | 905 | 17.3% |
| 4 | Steering | 544 | 10.4% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 275 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Tyres | 247 | 4.7% |
All Ml years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2,631 | 68.9% | +3.2 pts | 128,939 |
| 2003 | 2,918 | 64.9% | -0.0 pts | 129,430 |
| 2004 (this page) | 3,990 | 66.0% | +1.7 pts | 129,226 |
| 2005 | 2,954 | 67.5% | +3.1 pts | 129,558 |
| 2006 | 5,315 | 74.1% | +9.7 pts | 131,460 |
| 2007 | 6,332 | 74.0% | +8.8 pts | 129,158 |
| 2008 | 6,628 | 73.7% | +8.5 pts | 125,312 |
| 2009 | 5,891 | 73.3% | +6.9 pts | 119,591 |
| 2010 | 7,737 | 73.7% | +6.3 pts | 114,032 |
| 2011 | 7,665 | 75.6% | +6.4 pts | 106,454 |
| 2012 | 6,773 | 81.3% | +10.0 pts | 98,951 |
| 2013 | 12,482 | 84.5% | +11.2 pts | 94,996 |
| 2014 | 11,425 | 84.0% | +8.2 pts | 84,864 |
| 2015 | 9,422 | 85.8% | +7.1 pts | 74,374 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mercedes-Benz Ml years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Mercedes-Benz Ml reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 66.0% of their MOT tests (3,990 tests, 2023–2025), +1.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 129,226 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Ml?
The median tested example shows 129,226 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.