2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
97,105 MOT tests on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class are in this dataset, and 80.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.3%) and tyres (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 4,342 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.9% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.5% fail against 20.1% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 97,105 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 8,089 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 6,316 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 6,255 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 3,329 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 3,222 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 3,051 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 4,342 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3,803 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,188 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,808 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,767 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 2,589 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.6% | 26,779 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.5% | 19,951 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 10,575 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 7,273 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 4,215 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 2,072 |
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 | 2,643 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 18,833 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 36,159 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 25,893 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 10,159 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,361 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 71,062 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 26,043 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,250 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 19,400 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 19,717 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 19,504 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 19,234 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Tyres (6.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 97,105 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2013 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 97,105 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.