2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
773 MOT tests on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class are in this dataset, and 95.7% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (6.0% fail rate), the 2023 A-Class comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and lighting & signalling (0.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 23 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 7 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.5% | 4 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 2 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2 |
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 | 10.7% | 83 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 21 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.5% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 6 |
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 | 581 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 179 | 8.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 512 | 3.9% |
| Hybrid | 214 | 5.1% |
| Diesel | 47 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 2023 A-Class
On a 2023 A-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
95.7% of the 773 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.9%).
Does the 2023 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 773 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.