Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class?

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 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class?

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 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class?

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.

How many 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,467 vehicles, the 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class are: Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (66.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (64.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class?

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 Class (1998)

3,467 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Mercedes Benz A Class

CarHunch analysed 3,467 real MOT records for the 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz A-Class passes MOT on the first attempt only 66.3% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 29% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for any buyer considering this nearly three-decade-old model. Both petrol and diesel variants perform identically (66.3–66.4% pass rate), so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.

With a median mileage of 79,700 miles for a 1998 model, these cars are relatively low-mileage survivors, yet they're still averaging four failures per test and 13 advisories, pointing to age-related wear rather than heavy use as the problem. Before purchase, budget for immediate remedial work and have a pre-buy inspection focus on suspension, braking, and electrical systems—the typical weak points in cars this old.

The 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

66.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

28.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.99

Over 11.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

80k

Middle half: 65k–95k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 13.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,467 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,467 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 66.4%

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 61.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 48.3%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,467 Mercedes Benz A Class cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class

Based on MOT data from 3,467 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.7% 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
Petrol (93%)	3,231	66.3%	4
Diesel (7%)	236	66.4%	3.85

Colour Breakdown

Based on 357,326 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 22.6%

80,871

Black 21%

75,201

Grey 17.8%

63,753

White 14.2%

50,872

Blue 13.2%

47,323

Red 7.3%

26,262

Green 2%

7,021

Purple 0.6%

2,227

Gold 0.6%

2,071

Brown 0.3%

1,250

Orange 0.1%

266

Bronze 0.1%

209

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class 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.

79,700

typical

65,356

low mileage

94,940

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 65,356 and 94,940 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 65,356 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.

✓ 65,356–94,940 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Mercedes Benz A Classs sit.

⚠ Over 128,169 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Mercedes Benz A Classs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 72 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.99

Avg failures per vehicle

13.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz A Class: All A Class years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

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