Mercedes A-Class Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mercedes A-Class fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 493,299 MOT tests across 24 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
84%
Mercedes A-Class pass rate
87%
Mercedes average
82%
All-model average
The Mercedes A-Class has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, which is 3 points below the Mercedes average and 2 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Mercedes A-Classs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 14 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Mercedes A-Class's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Mercedes A-Class Fails Its MOT On
Of the 62,375 MOT tests on the Mercedes A-Class that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
31%Cars and vans the same age: 32% · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
29%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
28%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the A-Class fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
19%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
18%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (9.5% of failed tests, tyres)
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid (8% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Mercedes A-Class? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Mercedes A-Class Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each A-Class year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 2002: 70% passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars (3 points lower, 1,766 tests)
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2013: 83% passed, against 80% for all 2013 cars (3 points higher, 34,582 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Mercedes A-Class Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 2.0L | 95% | 4% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 8% | - |
| 2019 | Diesel | 1.5L | 90% | 9% | 91% (-1) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 1.5L | 89% | 10% | 89% (0) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 1.5L | 88% | 12% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 1.5L | 86% | 13% | 86% (0) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 1.5L | 85% | 15% | 84% (+1) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 1.5L | 83% | 16% | 82% (+1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 1.5L | 83% | 16% | 80% (+3) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 1.6L | 79% | 20% | 79% (0) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 1.6L | 78% | 22% | 77% (+1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 75% (+1) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | 75% (0) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.0L | 74% | 25% | 74% (0) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 2.0L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | 73% (-1) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.7L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.4L | 71% | 28% | 72% (-1) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.1L | 71% | 28% | 72% (-1) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.4L | 70% | 30% | 73% (-3) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 73% (-1) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.6L | 69% | 30% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.6L | 68% | 32% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 28% | - |
Mercedes A-Class Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Mercedes A-Class? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Mercedes A-Class Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Mercedes A-Class FAQ
What are the most common Mercedes A-Class problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mercedes A-Class that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (31% of the 62,375 failed tests), tyres (29%) and lights and electrics (28%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (14%). Across 493,299 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 84% ended in a pass.
Is the Mercedes A-Class reliable?
The Mercedes A-Class has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, from 493,299 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Mercedes A-Class years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2002 (70% of 1,766 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2013 (83% of 34,582 tests passed, against 80% for all 2013 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Mercedes A-Class faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mercedes A-Class typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Mercedes A-Class
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Compare the Mercedes A-Class
Other Mercedes Models
Common problems pages for other Mercedes models