Mercedes Benz A Class (2002)
2002 Mercedes Benz A Class
CarHunch analysed 15,840 real MOT records for the 2002 Mercedes Benz A Class. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.3%, which is notably below the UK average of 80% and signals reliability concerns for a car now over two decades old. More worryingly, nearly one in three of these vehicles (32.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making this a real buyer concern—petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly at 71.5% and 70.2% respectively.
These cars are running at a median of 63,444 miles, which is relatively low for their age and suggests many examples have been light-use or cherished, yet they still average 4.86 failures and 21 advisories per test. Before committing to one, prioritise a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and brake components, where Mercedes A-Class models of this era commonly fail.
What to check before buying a 2002 Mercedes Benz A Class
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 32.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Mercedes Benz A Class
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (84%) | 13,274 | 71.5% | 4.84 |
| Diesel (16%) | 2,562 | 70.2% | 4.99 |
| LPG (0%) | 2 | 79.5% | 2 |
| Gas (0%) | 1 | 73.7% | 5 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 71.4% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 50,679 and 77,021 miles.
2002 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 652 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Mercedes Benz A Class
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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86.3%
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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85.4%
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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75.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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71.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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70.1%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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68%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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63.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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42.6%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mercedes Benz A Class?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.