Petrol Mercedes-Benz A: MOT pass rate
90.4% of petrol Mercedes-Benz As pass the MOT first time, measured across 62,295 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 32,240.
Petrol against the other Mercedes-Benz A versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 90.4% | 62,295 |
| Diesel | 88.9% | 29,184 |
| All Mercedes-Benz A | 90% | 91,485 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the Mercedes-Benz A specifically, petrol is the strongest at 90.4%, and this petrol version sits 0.4 points above the 90% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol Mercedes-Benz A had covered 32,240 miles at test, against 41,940 for the diesel. That is below average for a car this age, worth a mileage-consistency check since an unusually low reading is sometimes clocking rather than luck.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz A page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Most common MOT failures on a petrol Mercedes-Benz A
- Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.3% of tests (5.19x the national rate for this defect)
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.8% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.4% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
- Lamp not securely attached, 0.3% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
- Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.2% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 3% of tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.7% of tests
- A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
From 62,551 DVSA-tracked petrol Mercedes-Benz A tests, 2024, split out from the Mercedes-Benz A's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 8.02% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.
Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Mercedes-Benz A
Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.
- Brake fluid significantly below minimum mark, 0.2% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake fluid below minimum mark, 0.1% of tests (2.33x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.1% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.9% of tests, also fails
- A tyre seriously damaged, 15.4% of tests, also fails
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.7% of tests, also fails
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 3.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.4% of tests
- Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests
- A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.5% of tests
From 62,551 DVSA-tracked petrol Mercedes-Benz A tests, 2024.
Other Mercedes-Benz A fuel types
- Diesel Mercedes-Benz A - 88.9%