2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

580 MOT tests in 2024. 57.4% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time57.4%
Failed or needed repairs42.6%
Typical mileage at test81,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 580 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.8%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.7%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.5%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.3%
  5. Stop lamp: not working4.3%
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak4.0%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.8%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  9. Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements2.4%
  10. Position lamp: not working2.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics30.7%
  2. Suspension27.1%
  3. Brakes22.1%
  4. Tyres9.0%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.6%
  6. Body & chassis7.1%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.1%
  8. Steering2.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded30.3%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.7%
  4. Registration plates: inscription illegible10.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

In 2024, 57.4% of 2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 580 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).