1998 Mercedes A 140 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

44.3%

Latest Pass Rate

5,508

Total Tests (All Years)

95,799 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 18

This car: 44.3%

Average: 54.3%

⚠️ 10.0% below average (8383 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes A 140 as it ages.

11 yrs44.0%

→ ↓2.9%

12 yrs41.1%

→ ↑1.7%

13 yrs42.8%

→ ↓5.3%

14 yrs37.5%

→ ↑2.8%

15 yrs40.3%

→ ↑1.6%

16 yrs41.9%

→ ↑3.6%

17 yrs45.5%

→ ↓1.2%

18 yrs44.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	44.0%	1,079
12 yrs	41.1%	991
13 yrs	42.8%	930
14 yrs	37.5%	795
15 yrs	40.3%	665
16 yrs	41.9%	480
17 yrs	45.5%	347
18 yrs	44.3%	221

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes A 140 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (18 yrs)	44.3%	221
2015 (17 yrs)	45.5%	347
2014 (16 yrs)	41.9%	480
2013 (15 yrs)	40.3%	665
2012 (14 yrs)	37.5%	795
2011 (13 yrs)	42.8%	930
2010 (12 yrs)	41.1%	991
2009 (11 yrs)	44%	1,079

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,079Avg Mileage 79,482Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%

2010High Fail Rate

41.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 991Avg Mileage 85,790Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%

2011High Fail Rate

42.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 930Avg Mileage 90,149Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%

2012High Fail Rate

37.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 795Avg Mileage 91,906Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%

2013High Fail Rate

40.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 665Avg Mileage 94,061Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 88.0%

2014High Fail Rate

41.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 480Avg Mileage 95,078Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 93.5%

2015High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 347Avg Mileage 94,225Top Failure Suspension — 74.4%

2016High Fail Rate

44.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 221Avg Mileage 95,799Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.7%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes A 140 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	44.0%	1,079	79,482	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%
2010	12	41.1%	991	85,790	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%
2011	13	42.8%	930	90,149	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%
2012	14	37.5%	795	91,906	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%
2013	15	40.3%	665	94,061	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 88.0%
2014	16	41.9%	480	95,078	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 93.5%
2015	17	45.5%	347	94,225	Suspension — 74.4%
2016	18	44.3%	221	95,799	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes A 140, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

60.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

53.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

52.1%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

26.2%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

17.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	27.5% (11 yrs)	65.2% (18 yrs)	+37.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	36.6% (11 yrs)	69.7% (18 yrs)	+33.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	31.8% (11 yrs)	58.8% (18 yrs)	+27.0%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	18.6% (11 yrs)	24.4% (18 yrs)	+5.8%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes A 140 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes A 140 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes A 140 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 5,508 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.