Mercedes-Benz A180d — MOT pass rate & failures
4,908 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz A180d (2005–2023) give an 88.7% pass rate. That is 3.6 percentage points better than the 14.9% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz A-Class versions, so the A180d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 138 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 7.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.6% in 2021 to 10.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 34 | 61.8% | 38.2% |
| 2009 | 32 | 78.1% | 21.9% |
| 2011 | 42 | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 2013 | 35 | 68.6% | 31.4% |
| 2014 | 56 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2015 | 45 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 2016 | 83 | 78.3% | 21.7% |
| 2017 | 70 | 84.3% | 15.7% |
| 2018 | 118 | 83.0% | 17.0% |
| 2019 | 961 | 90.2% | 9.8% |
| 2020 | 1,462 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2021 | 1,173 | 90.5% | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 743 | 91.3% | 8.8% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 255 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 133 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 128 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.0% | 100 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 99 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.7% | 82 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 34 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 29 |
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 | 138 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 117 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 113 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 80 |
| 5 | Washers | 52 |
| 6 | Wipers | 51 |
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 | 22.8% | 1,119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 640 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 278 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 152 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 28 |
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 | 1,642 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,243 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 733 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 190 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102 | 22.6% |
| 2022 | 345 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 880 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 1,486 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 2,095 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz A180d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 A180d at MOT time?
88.7% of the 4,908 Mercedes-Benz A180d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate, better than the 14.9% average across all A-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz A180d?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the A180d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,908 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.