Mercedes-Benz A: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz A passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 12.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 91,925 individual Mercedes-Benz A tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate89.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+12.8 points
Tests analysed91,925
Average mileage at test34,927 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank784 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 89.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 11 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz As presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Mercedes-Benz A tested had covered 34,927 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mercedes-Benz A sits 12.8 points above the national average, ranked 784 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mercedes-Benz A rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Mercedes-Benz As at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz A

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.2% of tests (3.81x the national rate for this defect)
  2. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.9% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.4% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Lamp not securely attached, 0.3% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.8% of tests
  9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.6% of tests

From 91,858 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz A tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.11% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz A defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mercedes-Benz A

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mercedes-Benz A before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake fluid significantly below minimum mark, 0.2% of tests (2.9x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Brake fluid below minimum mark, 0.1% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.5% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 25.9% of tests, also fails
  6. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.5% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 4% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.6% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests
  10. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.5% of tests

From 91,858 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz A tests, 2024.

Mercedes-Benz A pass rate by model year

From its 2018 to its 2021 model year, the Mercedes-Benz A's first-time pass rate has risen 6.7 points, from 85.7% to 92.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mercedes-Benz A year:

Mercedes-Benz A by fuel type

The Mercedes-Benz A's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.5 points: petrol passes first time 90.4% of the time (62,295 tests) against 88.9% for diesel (29,184 tests).

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Mercedes-Benz A MOT pass rate badge: 89.5%

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Mercedes-Benz A most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.2% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate