2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

5,206 MOT tests in 2024. 67.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time67.2%
Failed or needed repairs32.8%
Typical mileage at test68,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 5,206 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.7%
  2. Side repeaters: not working3.9%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.0%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.2%
    136 marked dangerous
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.1%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.1%
  8. Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements1.6%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.5%
    107 marked dangerous
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics16.7%
  2. Brakes12.4%
  3. Suspension11.1%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.9%
  5. Tyres5.4%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.4%
  7. Body & chassis2.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.8%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.4%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

In 2024, 67.2% of 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 5,206 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; side repeaters: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).