2021 Mercedes-Benz A MOT pass rate: 92.0% (34,759 tests)
Is the 2021 A getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92.4% +1.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 91.6% +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 2021 A
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,234 | 52.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 681 | 16.0% |
| 3 | Visibility | 410 | 9.6% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 289 | 6.8% |
| 5 | Road Wheels | 161 | 3.8% |
| 6 | Suspension | 117 | 2.7% |
All A years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,502 | 85.5% | -0.8 pts | 43,671 |
| 2019 | 125,677 | 88.5% | +0.1 pts | 36,944 |
| 2020 | 86,336 | 90.6% | +0.6 pts | 29,490 |
| 2021 (this page) | 34,759 | 92.0% | +1.6 pts | 28,343 |
| 2022 | 4,161 | 92.8% | +1.5 pts | 21,854 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mercedes-Benz A years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2021 Mercedes-Benz A reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 92.0% of their MOT tests (34,759 tests, 2023–2025), +1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 28,343 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 A?
The median tested example shows 28,343 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.