Mercedes-Benz A200d — MOT pass rate & failures
The Mercedes-Benz A200d passed 81.3% of its 11,992 MOT tests, covering model years 2005–2023. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than the 14.9% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz A-Class versions, so the A200d is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 435 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.2% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.0% in 2021 to 16.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 389 | 71.7% | 28.3% |
| 2006 | 619 | 72.7% | 27.3% |
| 2007 | 211 | 72.0% | 28.0% |
| 2008 | 81 | 71.6% | 28.4% |
| 2012 | 254 | 80.7% | 19.3% |
| 2013 | 5,557 | 79.9% | 20.1% |
| 2014 | 2,308 | 79.5% | 20.4% |
| 2015 | 82 | 80.5% | 19.5% |
| 2016 | 106 | 82.1% | 17.9% |
| 2017 | 65 | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| 2018 | 39 | 74.4% | 25.6% |
| 2020 | 86 | 87.2% | 12.8% |
| 2021 | 1,619 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 502 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.4% | 884 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 858 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 720 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 428 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 400 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 260 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 245 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 188 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 435 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 398 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 351 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 348 |
| 5 | Washers | 284 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 252 |
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 | 27.9% | 3,348 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 2,512 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 1,222 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 936 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 553 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 287 |
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 | 1,191 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,436 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,781 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,879 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,277 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,003 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 2,005 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 2,050 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 2,778 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 3,156 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz A200d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 A200d at MOT time?
81.3% of the 11,992 Mercedes-Benz A200d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.7% fail rate, worse than the 14.9% average across all A-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz A200d?
Suspension, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the A200d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,992 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.