Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 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 2009 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 2009 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 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% 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 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 8,743 vehicles, the 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (55.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (52.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (47.9% 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 2009 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 (2009)

8,743 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80% first-time pass rate

2009 Mercedes Benz A Class

CarHunch analysed 8,743 real MOT records for the 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class hits the UK average pass rate of 80%, so reliability is broadly in line with expectations for a 15-year-old car—but the concerning part is that 37.1% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Petrol versions edge ahead with an 80.6% pass rate against diesel's 78.7%, a minor but consistent advantage.

These A-Classes are running at a sensible 52,672 miles median, suggesting owners have been reasonably gentle with them, yet they're still racking up an average of 3.43 failures and 20.6 advisories per test, indicating age-related wear is catching up. Before you commit, get a pre-purchase inspection done and specifically ask a mechanic to check the history for what those dangerous defects were—they matter more than the headline pass rate here.

The 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class has a decent first-time pass rate (80%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

80%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

37.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.43

Over 16.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

53k

Middle half: 39k–68k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 20.6 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 8,743 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 8,743 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 55.7%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Brake wear 52.7%

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Front 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.

Tyre wear 47.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 8,743 Mercedes Benz A Class cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

80.6%

Petrol

5,916 vehicles

78.8%

Diesel

2,825 vehicles

Before you buy a 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class

Based on MOT data from 8,743 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37.2% 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 (68%)	5,916	80.6%	3.35
Diesel (32%)	2,825	78.8%	3.61

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 2009 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.

52,672

typical

39,154

low mileage

67,813

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 39,154 and 67,813 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,154 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.

✓ 39,154–67,813 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Mercedes Benz A Classs sit.

⚠ Over 91,547 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road

Most 2009 Mercedes Benz A Classs are still being driven.

6,187 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 74% of the peak remain.

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

16.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.43

Avg failures per vehicle

20.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Mercedes Benz A Class stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing