Mercedes-Benz A200 — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz A200 passed 90.1% of its 12,782 MOT tests, covering model years 2005–2023. That is 5.1 percentage points better than the 14.9% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz A-Class versions, so the A200 is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 249 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.9% once past 120-150k — 4.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.5% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 509 | 76.8% | 23.2% |
| 2006 | 470 | 76.0% | 24.0% |
| 2007 | 205 | 81.0% | 19.0% |
| 2008 | 88 | 71.6% | 28.4% |
| 2012 | 82 | 81.7% | 18.3% |
| 2013 | 1,543 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2014 | 660 | 83.9% | 16.1% |
| 2015 | 31 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
| 2018 | 165 | 88.5% | 11.5% |
| 2019 | 129 | 86.1% | 14.0% |
| 2020 | 119 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 2021 | 4,060 | 93.4% | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 4,637 | 94.2% | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 32 | 96.9% | 3.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 570 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 390 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.2% | 278 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 270 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 235 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 143 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 120 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 98 |
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 | 249 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 194 |
| 3 | Washers | 169 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 127 |
| 5 | Wipers | 127 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 122 |
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 | 20.4% | 2,607 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,448 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 689 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 560 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 409 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 172 |
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 | 6,359 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,884 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,679 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 661 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 164 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 804 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 816 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 888 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 3,088 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 7,186 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz A200
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.2% 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.
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 A200 at MOT time?
90.1% of the 12,782 Mercedes-Benz A200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate, better than the 14.9% average across all A-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz A200?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the A200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,782 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.