Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

35% 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 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 8,765 vehicles, the 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (68.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.4% 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 2004 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 (2004)

8,765 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Mercedes Benz A Class

CarHunch analysed 8,765 real MOT records for the 2004 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Mercedes-Benz A-Class falls noticeably short of the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.3% compared to 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects age-related wear. More concerning, 34.7% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is substantially higher than typical and a genuine red flag for buyers.

At an average mileage of 60,831 miles for a 20-year-old car, these A-Classes are relatively well-preserved, yet they're still racking up an average of 4.76 failures and 23.8 advisories per test. The sheer number of advisories suggests cumulative component fatigue rather than catastrophic issues—but before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and electrical systems, which are common problem areas for this generation.

The 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.3% 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

73.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

34.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.76

Over 17.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

56k

Middle half: 44k–70k

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 23.8 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 8,765 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 8,765 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 68.2%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Tyre wear 65.6%

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.

Brake wear 32.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Lighting 22%

Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 8,765 Mercedes Benz A Class cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.6%

Petrol

7,344 vehicles

72%

Diesel

1,420 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class

Based on MOT data from 8,765 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34.7% 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 (84%)	7,344	73.6%	4.74
Diesel (16%)	1,420	72%	4.86

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 2004 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.

56,403

typical

44,190

low mileage

69,913

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 44,190 and 69,913 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 44,190 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.

✓ 44,190–69,913 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mercedes Benz A Classs sit.

⚠ Over 94,382 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 11% of 2004 Mercedes Benz A Classs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 875 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (11% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

17.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.76

Avg failures per vehicle

23.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Mercedes Benz A Class stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on