Mercedes Benz A Class (2017)
2017 Mercedes Benz A Class
CarHunch analysed 41,730 real MOT records for the 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz A-Class passes its MOT on first attempt 87.7% of the time, which is well above the UK average of 80%, but a significant concern is that 34% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the typical threshold. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 89.3% pass rate versus 87% for diesels, though both are respectable.
At a median mileage of 47,352 miles for a seven-year-old car, these A-Classes show typical wear for their age, and the average of 1.0 failure per vehicle suggests most problems are minor when they do occur. However, the 6.3 advisories per car indicate these are not maintenance-free machines—budget for regular attention to trim, lighting, and fluid levels, and always obtain a full MOT history before purchase to check whether any dangerous defects were recorded on that specific car.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2017 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.
- ⚠️ 34% 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
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (69%) | 28,814 | 87% | 1.06 |
| Petrol (31%) | 12,916 | 89.3% | 0.86 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2017 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 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 36,778 and 60,151 miles.
2017 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 38,916 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 2020–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 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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45.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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43.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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22.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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22.4%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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20.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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17.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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13.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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13.7%
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. 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.