2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,839 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 77.6% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (75.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.7% in the 150k+ group versus 12.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 5,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 3,129 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 2,838 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 2,313 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,583 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 1,169 |
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 | 2,389 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 1,900 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,819 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,738 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,166 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,123 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.1% | 13,936 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.5% | 10,835 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 5,176 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.6% | 4,725 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,740 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 2,060 |
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 | 2,271 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 11,705 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 14,998 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 8,204 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,790 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 854 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 27,612 | 21.8% |
| Diesel | 13,224 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,478 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 8,399 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 8,314 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 8,079 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 7,569 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 A-Class
Before buying a 2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 many 2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 40,839 2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2010 A-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,839 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.