2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

6,640 MOT tests in 2024. 58.9% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time58.9%
Failed or needed repairs41.1%
Typical mileage at test85,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,640 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.2%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak4.5%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.5%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.5%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.3%
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid3.1%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.1%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
    198 marked dangerous
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%
  10. Stop lamp: not working2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics22.5%
  2. Brakes19.5%
  3. Suspension16.5%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)10.2%
  5. Body & chassis8.6%
  6. Tyres6.6%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded24.6%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.4%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak8.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2008 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

In 2024, 58.9% of 2008 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,640 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz A-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).