Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% 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 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 39,040 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.9% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (22.6% 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 2016 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 (2016)

39,040 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.2% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz A Class

CarHunch analysed 39,040 real MOT records for the 2016 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? →

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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 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class passes its MOT first time at 86.2%, which is a solid 6 percentage points above the UK average, but the concerning figure here is that 38.3% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the typical threshold—so mechanical issues on this car can be serious when they occur. Petrol versions fare slightly better at 88.3% pass rate versus diesels at 85.5%, suggesting the petrol engines are marginally more robust.

At just over 52,800 miles median, these cars are running well within normal wear expectations for their age, yet they're still averaging 1.25 failures per vehicle, indicating that when something breaks, it's often material enough to fail the test. The 7.3 advisories per car suggest routine maintenance costs accumulate; budget for suspension, cooling, and electrical niggles as standard maintenance tasks. If you're considering one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus specifically on the braking system and suspension components, as these account for a disproportionate share of the dangerous defects recorded.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class has a decent first-time pass rate (86.2%), 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

86.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.25

Over 8.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

53k

Middle half: 41k–67k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.3 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 39,040 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 39,040 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 45.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Brake wear 22.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Other issues 9.8%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 39,040 Mercedes Benz A Class cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

88.3%

Petrol

9,480 vehicles

85.5%

Diesel

29,560 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class

Based on MOT data from 39,040 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.3% 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
Diesel (76%)	29,560	85.5%	1.31
Petrol (24%)	9,480	88.3%	1.04

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 2016 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.

52,839

typical

41,283

low mileage

66,630

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 41,283 and 66,630 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 41,283 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.

✓ 41,283–66,630 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz A Classs sit.

⚠ Over 89,950 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz A Classs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 36,258 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

8.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.25

Avg failures per vehicle

7.3

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 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz A Class stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing