In 2025, 327,929 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 77% passed first time, compared with 76% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the A-Class about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 120 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of A-Classs passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 60% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 13 to 15 years.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | A-Class passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 4,188 | 91% | 88% | 24,661.3514804202 |
| 4 years | 17,636 | 90% | 87% | 34,721.026083012 |
| 5 years | 28,903 | 87% | 86% | 40,335.0869805902 |
| 6 years | 50,869 | 85% | 84% | 48,454.3245395034 |
| 7 years | 41,183 | 83% | 81% | 55,872.9373527912 |
| 8 years | 40,600 | 78% | 78% | 65,730.0528078818 |
| 9 years | 37,880 | 75% | 75% | 74,677.6172386484 |
| 10 years | 26,467 | 72% | 72% | 83,440.6618808327 |
| 11 years | 22,657 | 69% | 69% | 92,582.8424769387 |
| 12 years | 14,280 | 68% | 66% | 96,568.6509803922 |
| 13 years | 5,029 | 67% | 63% | 74,820.6530125273 |
| 14 years | 5,175 | 66% | 61% | 75,052.328115942 |
| 15 years | 5,775 | 62% | 59% | 79,922.112034632 |
| 16 years | 6,409 | 59% | 58% | 85,079.270244968 |
| 17 years | 6,050 | 58% | 57% | 89,541.7120661157 |
| 18 years | 5,220 | 58% | 57% | 89,958.6440613027 |
| 19 years | 3,579 | 57% | 57% | 89,270.9094719195 |
| 20 years | 2,315 | 60% | 58% | 86,259 |
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz A-Class
The area that lets the A-Class down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.8% of tests failed on it, 5.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and lights and electrics.
Share of A-Class tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.4% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.1% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 3.0% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.7% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 2.7% |
What to check when buying a used A-Class
Based on where the A-Class fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific A-Class
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a A-ClassFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
In 2025, 77% of Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 327,929 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 76%.
What do Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a tyre seriously damaged (3.4% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.2% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.1% of tests).
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (74%), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (77%), Mercedes-Benz Vito (67%), Mercedes-Benz B-Class (72%), Mercedes-Benz Glc (85%), Mercedes-Benz Gla (80%). All Mercedes-Benz models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.