1998 Mercedes A 170 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

56.5%

Latest Pass Rate

950

Total Tests (All Years)

116,742 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 18

This car: 56.5%

Average: 54.3%

✅ 2.2% above average (8383 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes A 170 as it ages.

11 yrs41.4%

→ ↓2.6%

12 yrs38.8%

→ ↑7.1%

13 yrs45.9%

→ ↓1.8%

14 yrs44.1%

→ ↓6.3%

15 yrs37.8%

→ ↑6.9%

16 yrs44.7%

→ ↓7.2%

17 yrs37.5%

→ ↑19.0%

18 yrs56.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	41.4%	186
12 yrs	38.8%	165
13 yrs	45.9%	157
14 yrs	44.1%	136
15 yrs	37.8%	111
16 yrs	44.7%	85
17 yrs	37.5%	64
18 yrs	56.5%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes A 170 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (18 yrs)	56.5%	46
2015 (17 yrs)	37.5%	64
2014 (16 yrs)	44.7%	85
2013 (15 yrs)	37.8%	111
2012 (14 yrs)	44.1%	136
2011 (13 yrs)	45.9%	157
2010 (12 yrs)	38.8%	165
2009 (11 yrs)	41.4%	186

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 186Avg Mileage 99,117Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%

2010High Fail Rate

38.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 165Avg Mileage 104,483Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.0%

2011High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 157Avg Mileage 109,192Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%

2012High Fail Rate

44.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 136Avg Mileage 119,441Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.0%

2013High Fail Rate

37.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 111Avg Mileage 115,051Top Failure Brakes — 101.8%

2014High Fail Rate

44.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 85Avg Mileage 114,102Top Failure Suspension — 94.1%

2015High Fail Rate

37.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 64Avg Mileage 118,208Top Failure Suspension — 85.9%

2016High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 46Avg Mileage 116,742Top Failure Suspension — 78.3%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes A 170 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	41.4%	186	99,117	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%
2010	12	38.8%	165	104,483	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.0%
2011	13	45.9%	157	109,192	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%
2012	14	44.1%	136	119,441	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.0%
2013	15	37.8%	111	115,051	Brakes — 101.8%
2014	16	44.7%	85	114,102	Suspension — 94.1%
2015	17	37.5%	64	118,208	Suspension — 85.9%
2016	18	56.5%	46	116,742	Suspension — 78.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes A 170, with age trends.

Suspension

60.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

57.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

52.0%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

22.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

18.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	30.1% (11 yrs)	78.3% (18 yrs)	+48.2%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	40.9% (11 yrs)	63.0% (18 yrs)	+22.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	32.3% (11 yrs)	41.3% (18 yrs)	+9.0%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.1% (11 yrs)	19.6% (18 yrs)	+3.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to Mercedes A 170 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes A 170 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes A 170 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 950 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.