Mercedes Benz A Class (2006)
2006 Mercedes Benz A Class
CarHunch analysed 11,910 real MOT records for the 2006 Mercedes Benz A Class. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class passes its first MOT at 76.5%, which is 3.5 points below the UK average, and this cohort has a serious reliability concern: 36% have suffered a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (76.9% and 76.0% pass rates respectively), so fuel type won't solve the problem.
These cars are averaging just over 64,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but the real issue is the failure pattern: owners face an average of 4.17 failures and 19.2 advisories per test cycle, suggesting chronic wear in multiple systems rather than isolated issues. If you're considering one, budget for remedial work on brakes, suspension, and electrical components, and factor in the high likelihood of future expensive repairs.
What to check before buying a 2006 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.
- ⚠️ 36% 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 (66%) | 7,836 | 76.9% | 4.15 |
| Diesel (34%) | 4,073 | 76% | 4.21 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2006 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 2006 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 45,098 and 72,572 miles.
2006 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,435 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (31% 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 — 2006 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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68.2%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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65.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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58.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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32.5%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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28.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.3%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
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27.7%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
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27.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006. 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.