2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
34,980 MOT tests on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class are in this dataset, and 74.1% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2006 A-Class comes out 1.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and washers — joints alone was recorded 2,771 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.3% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.9% fail against 28.3% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 34,980 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 4,891 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 3,415 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 3,229 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 2,720 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 2,657 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 1,621 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,771 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,545 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,287 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,799 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,600 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,472 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.1% | 14,030 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 10,009 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 7,415 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.8% | 4,821 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 4,216 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 3,293 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 756 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,675 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 12,475 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,175 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,378 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,330 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 24,319 | 24.9% |
| Diesel | 10,661 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,271 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 8,078 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 6,911 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 5,903 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 4,817 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 A-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 34,980 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2006 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,980 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.