2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 221,222 MOT tests, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class recorded an 85.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 13.7%, so the 2016 A-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.1% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 6,706 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.3% versus 7.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (14.8% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 15,806 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.5% | 7,798 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 7,409 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 5,928 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 5,815 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 3,572 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 6,706 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,876 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 4,592 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,482 |
| 5 | Washers | 4,202 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,308 |
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 | 26.9% | 59,475 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 40,721 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 14,190 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 8,943 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 6,978 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 3,113 |
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 | 20,769 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 100,979 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 72,177 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 21,600 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,550 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,092 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 168,811 | 14.8% |
| Petrol | 52,411 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43,208 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 43,629 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 44,380 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 44,635 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 45,370 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 A-Class
On a 2016 A-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Suspension (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 221,222 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by suspension (3.5%).
Does the 2016 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 221,222 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.