Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE reliable?

Based on MOT data from 179 vehicles, the 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE has a first-time MOT pass rate of 96.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE (2017)

179 real MOT outcomes analysed • 96.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE

CarHunch analysed 179 real MOT records for the 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz A 180 D SE falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.8% first-time pass rate versus 80%, suggesting it's marginally more prone to MOT failure than typical cars of this age. The good news is that dangerous defects are virtually non-existent in this cohort, and failure rates are low at 0.12 per vehicle, so issues tend to be minor when they do occur.

At 62,383 miles on average, these cars have covered reasonable mileage for a seven-year-old model, and the near-zero advisory count indicates the diesel engines aren't showing signs of developing expensive problems yet. Before buying, check the full MOT history rather than relying on the latest test result, since one in five will still fail their MOT—and budget for a pre-purchase inspection to catch any borderline issues before they become failures.

We have limited data for the 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

96.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.12

Over 2.8 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

61k

Middle half: 50k–76k

For context

These stats describe 179 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 179 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE

Based on MOT data from 179 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	178	96.6%	0.12

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

61,188

typical

49,528

low mileage

76,299

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE vehicles fall between 49,528 and 76,299 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,528 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,528–76,299 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SEs sit.

⚠ Over 103,003 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE — Still on the Road

Most 2017 Mercedes Benz A 180 D SEs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 84 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 82% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.12

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz A 180 D SE: All A 180 D SE years → Which year to buy? →

2016

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

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