Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 41,730 vehicles, the 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 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 2017 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 (2017)

41,730 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Mercedes Benz A Class

CarHunch analysed 41,730 real MOT records for the 2017 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 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.

The 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class has a decent first-time pass rate (87.7%), 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

87.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

34%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

Over 7.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 37k–60k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.7% 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 6.3 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 41,730 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 41,730 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 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 41,730 Mercedes Benz A Class cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

89.3%

Petrol

12,916 vehicles

87%

Diesel

28,814 vehicles

Before you buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class

Based on MOT data from 41,730 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34% 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 (69%)	28,814	87%	1.06
Petrol (31%)	12,916	89.3%	0.86

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 2017 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.

47,352

typical

36,778

low mileage

60,151

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class vehicles fall between 36,778 and 60,151 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,778 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.

✓ 36,778–60,151 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Mercedes Benz A Classs sit.

⚠ Over 81,203 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Mercedes Benz A Class — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Mercedes Benz A Classs are 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.
* 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

7.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

6.3

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 2017 Mercedes Benz A Class stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing