Mercedes-Benz A-Class
From 172,952 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer A-Classs fare better: 2022 models pass at 98.4% vs 86.4% for 2018.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 2,897 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,897 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,599 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,865 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,244 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 889 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 607 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 589 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 502 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 436 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 397 |
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2021 | 92.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 89.3% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
1 earlier years
| 2018 | 86.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction |
Typical mileage
Half of all A-Classs tested had between 23,055 and 44,429 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 36,045 median miles, the A-Class has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has a 90.5% MOT pass rate based on 172,952 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 2,897 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz A-Class at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz A-Class is 36,045 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 23,055 and 44,429 miles.
Buying a used A-Class?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.