2003 Mercedes A 170 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

50.7%

Latest Pass Rate

13,919

Total Tests (All Years)

91,485 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 50.7%

Average: 53.5%

⚠️ 2.8% below average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Mercedes A 170 as it ages.

6 yrs63.5%

→ ↑0.2%

7 yrs63.7%

→ ↓5.4%

8 yrs58.3%

→ ↓3.2%

9 yrs55.1%

→ ↓4.1%

10 yrs51.0%

→ ↓1.7%

11 yrs49.3%

→ ↑0.5%

12 yrs49.8%

→ ↑0.5%

13 yrs50.3%

→ ↓1.8%

14 yrs48.5%

→ ↑6.6%

15 yrs55.1%

→ ↑1.6%

16 yrs56.7%

→ ↓6.0%

17 yrs50.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	63.5%	1,809
7 yrs	63.7%	1,784
8 yrs	58.3%	1,780
9 yrs	55.1%	1,748
10 yrs	51.0%	1,740
11 yrs	49.3%	1,629
12 yrs	49.8%	1,489
13 yrs	50.3%	1,337
14 yrs	48.5%	268
15 yrs	55.1%	158
16 yrs	56.7%	104
17 yrs	50.7%	73

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Mercedes A 170 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	50.7%	73
2019 (16 yrs)	56.7%	104
2018 (15 yrs)	55.1%	158
2017 (14 yrs)	48.5%	268
2016 (13 yrs)	50.3%	1,337
2015 (12 yrs)	49.8%	1,489
2014 (11 yrs)	49.3%	1,629
2013 (10 yrs)	51%	1,740
2012 (9 yrs)	55.1%	1,748
2011 (8 yrs)	58.3%	1,780
2010 (7 yrs)	63.7%	1,784
2009 (6 yrs)	63.5%	1,809

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 1,809Avg Mileage 56,746Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2010High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 1,784Avg Mileage 63,709Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2011High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 1,780Avg Mileage 69,262Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%

2012High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 1,748Avg Mileage 76,181Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.4%

2013High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 1,740Avg Mileage 81,886Top Failure Brakes — 62.1%

2014High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,629Avg Mileage 87,388Top Failure Brakes — 78.3%

2015High Fail Rate

49.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,489Avg Mileage 92,122Top Failure Brakes — 71.4%

2016High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,337Avg Mileage 96,025Top Failure Brakes — 72.8%

2017High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 268Avg Mileage 97,829Top Failure Brakes — 76.5%

2018High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 158Avg Mileage 93,937Top Failure Brakes — 62.7%

2019High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 104Avg Mileage 91,222Top Failure Brakes — 71.2%

2020High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 73Avg Mileage 91,485Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 64.4%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes A 170 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	63.5%	1,809	56,746	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2010	7	63.7%	1,784	63,709	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2011	8	58.3%	1,780	69,262	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%
2012	9	55.1%	1,748	76,181	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.4%
2013	10	51.0%	1,740	81,886	Brakes — 62.1%
2014	11	49.3%	1,629	87,388	Brakes — 78.3%
2015	12	49.8%	1,489	92,122	Brakes — 71.4%
2016	13	50.3%	1,337	96,025	Brakes — 72.8%
2017	14	48.5%	268	97,829	Brakes — 76.5%
2018	15	55.1%	158	93,937	Brakes — 62.7%
2019	16	56.7%	104	91,222	Brakes — 71.2%
2020	17	50.7%	73	91,485	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 64.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Mercedes A 170, with age trends.

Brakes

52.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

45.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.8%

— Consistent

Tyres

22.8%

↑ 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	12.9% (6 yrs)	63.0% (17 yrs)	+50.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	10.9% (6 yrs)	50.7% (17 yrs)	+39.8%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.1% (6 yrs)	50.7% (17 yrs)	+39.6%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 13,919 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.