2004 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT pass rate: 65.9% (3,730 tests)
Is the 2004 A-Class getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.3% +1.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 66.1% +2.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 66.7% +1.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 A-Class
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,074 | 25.4% |
| 2 | Suspension | 962 | 22.8% |
| 3 | Brakes | 870 | 20.6% |
| 4 | Visibility | 352 | 8.3% |
| 5 | Tyres | 313 | 7.4% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 211 | 5.0% |
All A-Class years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,818 | 65.4% | -1.1 pts | 79,515 |
| 2002 | 2,815 | 64.4% | -1.3 pts | 75,501 |
| 2003 | 3,857 | 64.4% | -0.6 pts | 76,500 |
| 2004 (this page) | 3,730 | 65.9% | +1.6 pts | 76,882 |
| 2005 | 8,651 | 67.0% | +2.5 pts | 83,365 |
| 2006 | 13,003 | 66.2% | +1.8 pts | 86,390 |
| 2007 | 17,866 | 67.2% | +2.1 pts | 86,508 |
| 2008 | 19,814 | 66.6% | +1.4 pts | 85,074 |
| 2009 | 20,446 | 67.9% | +1.5 pts | 79,876 |
| 2010 | 18,193 | 70.1% | +2.8 pts | 74,461 |
| 2011 | 15,999 | 73.2% | +4.1 pts | 68,560 |
| 2012 | 15,343 | 73.8% | +2.6 pts | 66,954 |
| 2013 | 43,320 | 75.0% | +1.7 pts | 88,894 |
| 2014 | 68,394 | 76.2% | +0.4 pts | 83,096 |
| 2015 | 79,336 | 79.0% | +0.2 pts | 73,226 |
| 2016 | 112,680 | 81.3% | -0.0 pts | 64,332 |
| 2017 | 120,411 | 83.6% | -0.4 pts | 54,941 |
| 2018 | 119,232 | 86.7% | +0.3 pts | 45,347 |
| 2019 | 25,558 | 87.8% | -0.6 pts | 39,598 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mercedes-Benz A-Class years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Mercedes-Benz A-Class reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 65.9% of their MOT tests (3,730 tests, 2023–2025), +1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 76,882 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 A-Class?
The median tested example shows 76,882 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.