Mercedes-Benz A180 — MOT pass rate & failures
11,511 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz A180 (2009–2023) give a 92.6% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than the 14.9% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz A-Class versions, so the A180 is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 179 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 5.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.1% in 2021 to 7.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 102 | 78.4% | 21.6% |
| 2010 | 197 | 80.7% | 19.3% |
| 2011 | 130 | 82.3% | 17.7% |
| 2012 | 37 | 83.8% | 16.2% |
| 2013 | 214 | 90.6% | 9.3% |
| 2014 | 99 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2015 | 53 | 88.7% | 11.3% |
| 2016 | 49 | 93.9% | 6.1% |
| 2017 | 58 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2018 | 39 | 92.3% | 7.7% |
| 2019 | 34 | 91.2% | 8.8% |
| 2021 | 4,297 | 93.4% | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 6,125 | 93.2% | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 64 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 498 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 213 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 159 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 131 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 90 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 39 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 31 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 31 |
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 | 179 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 159 |
| 3 | Wipers | 101 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 98 |
| 5 | Washers | 78 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 59 |
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 | 20.1% | 2,311 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 895 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 534 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 346 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 268 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 78 |
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 | 7,262 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,606 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 515 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 140 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 203 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 2,709 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 8,336 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz A180
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.4% 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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz A180 at MOT time?
92.6% of the 11,511 Mercedes-Benz A180 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate, better than the 14.9% average across all A-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz A180?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the A180 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,511 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.