2003 Mercedes A 160 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

52.5%

Latest Pass Rate

29,486

Total Tests (All Years)

81,224 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 52.5%

Average: 53.5%

⚠️ 1.0% below average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Mercedes A 160 as it ages.

6 yrs69.8%

→ ↓4.3%

7 yrs65.5%

→ ↓2.2%

8 yrs63.3%

→ ↓3.3%

9 yrs60.0%

→ ↓4.4%

10 yrs55.6%

→ ↓2.4%

11 yrs53.2%

→ ↓1.1%

12 yrs52.1%

→ ↑1.2%

13 yrs53.3%

→ ↓4.7%

14 yrs48.6%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs48.5%

→ ↑6.9%

16 yrs55.4%

→ ↓2.9%

17 yrs52.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	69.8%	3,770
7 yrs	65.5%	3,680
8 yrs	63.3%	3,756
9 yrs	60.0%	3,663
10 yrs	55.6%	3,609
11 yrs	53.2%	3,460
12 yrs	52.1%	3,243
13 yrs	53.3%	2,897
14 yrs	48.6%	584
15 yrs	48.5%	330
16 yrs	55.4%	271
17 yrs	52.5%	223

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Mercedes A 160 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	52.5%	223
2019 (16 yrs)	55.4%	271
2018 (15 yrs)	48.5%	330
2017 (14 yrs)	48.6%	584
2016 (13 yrs)	53.3%	2,897
2015 (12 yrs)	52.1%	3,243
2014 (11 yrs)	53.2%	3,460
2013 (10 yrs)	55.6%	3,609
2012 (9 yrs)	60%	3,663
2011 (8 yrs)	63.3%	3,756
2010 (7 yrs)	65.5%	3,680
2009 (6 yrs)	69.8%	3,770

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

69.8%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 3,770Avg Mileage 46,168Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.6%

2010

65.5%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 3,680Avg Mileage 52,239Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.8%

2011High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 3,756Avg Mileage 58,178Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%

2012High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 3,663Avg Mileage 63,839Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

2013High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 3,609Avg Mileage 69,608Top Failure Brakes — 54.6%

2014High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 3,460Avg Mileage 74,317Top Failure Brakes — 64.0%

2015High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 3,243Avg Mileage 78,620Top Failure Brakes — 68.5%

2016High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,897Avg Mileage 81,829Top Failure Brakes — 65.8%

2017High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 584Avg Mileage 82,267Top Failure Brakes — 77.6%

2018High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 330Avg Mileage 81,931Top Failure Brakes — 80.0%

2019High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 271Avg Mileage 81,420Top Failure Brakes — 70.5%

2020High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 223Avg Mileage 81,224Top Failure Brakes — 70.9%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes A 160 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	69.8%	3,770	46,168	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.6%
2010	7	65.5%	3,680	52,239	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.8%
2011	8	63.3%	3,756	58,178	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%
2012	9	60.0%	3,663	63,839	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%
2013	10	55.6%	3,609	69,608	Brakes — 54.6%
2014	11	53.2%	3,460	74,317	Brakes — 64.0%
2015	12	52.1%	3,243	78,620	Brakes — 68.5%
2016	13	53.3%	2,897	81,829	Brakes — 65.8%
2017	14	48.6%	584	82,267	Brakes — 77.6%
2018	15	48.5%	330	81,931	Brakes — 80.0%
2019	16	55.4%	271	81,420	Brakes — 70.5%
2020	17	52.5%	223	81,224	Brakes — 70.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Mercedes A 160, with age trends.

Brakes

50.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

41.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

33.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

32.6%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

22.3%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	10.5% (6 yrs)	70.9% (17 yrs)	+60.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	4.5% (6 yrs)	61.0% (17 yrs)	+56.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.1% (6 yrs)	40.8% (17 yrs)	+29.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

← Back to Mercedes A 160 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes A 160 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes A 160 cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 29,486 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.