Mercedes A160 Avantgarde MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 70 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 41.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes A160 Avantgarde MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes A160 Avantgarde is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 70 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 58.6% and a failure rate of 41.4%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Mercedes A160 Avantgarde presents for MOT with approximately 58,961 miles on the clock. The 1999 manufacture year performs best with a 50.0% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 28.6% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Suspension at 27.1%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 18.6%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 54.3% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.1% | 26 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.9% | 23 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 8.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 5.7% | 4 |
| 7 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.9% | 2 |
| 8 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2 |
| 9 | Steering | 2.9% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 58,961 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 9.21 | 54.3% | 38 |
| Suspension | 6.30 | 37.1% | 26 |
| Brakes | 5.57 | 32.9% | 23 |
| Tyres | 3.63 | 21.4% | 15 |
| Visibility | 1.93 | 11.5% | 8 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.97 | 5.7% | 4 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.48 | 2.9% | 2 |
| Steering | 0.48 | 2.9% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes A160 Avantgarde has 58,961 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes A160 Avantgarde has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.02% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Mercedes A160 Avantgarde MOT Data
The Mercedes A160 Avantgarde is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 70 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 58.6% and a failure rate of 41.4%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes A160 Avantgarde owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific A160 Avantgarde is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 28.6% of MOT failures on the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 27.1% of failures
Suspension issues account for 27.1% of MOT failures on the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 18.6% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.6% of MOT failures on the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde?
Based on 70 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde has an overall pass rate of 58.6% (41.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes A160 Avantgarde?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes A160 Avantgarde fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (28.6%), 2. Suspension (27.1%), 3. Tyres (18.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes A160 Avantgarde reliable?
With a 41.4% MOT failure rate, the A160 Avantgarde is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes A160 Avantgarde?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (28.6%); Suspension (27.1%); Tyres (18.6%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.