2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
230,028 MOT tests on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class are in this dataset, and 89.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (9.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, seat belts & restraints and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests against 2.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and srs malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 6,663 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.1% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.6% of the time against 10.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 12,089 |
| 2 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.2% | 5,002 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 4,682 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 3,884 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 3,573 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,672 |
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 | 6,663 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 4,707 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 4,613 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,444 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,319 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,921 |
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 | 23.8% | 54,781 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 27,807 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 12,002 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 7,547 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 5,021 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 971 |
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 | 97,583 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 106,345 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 22,607 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,940 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 425 | 14.3% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 138,814 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 91,201 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,188 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 57,812 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 57,277 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 56,233 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 56,518 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 A-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Seat belts & restraints (2.2% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
- Brakes (2.0% 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.
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 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 230,028 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by seat belts & restraints (2.2%).
Does the 2019 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 230,028 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.