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Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D reliable? We analysed 1,283 real MOT tests across 418 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,283 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.5%
Typical Mileage
37,894mi
Annual Mileage
8,987mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D.

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.8%
2021
87.9%
2020
89.5%
2019

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,724 mi/yr
Typical
8,987 mi/yr
Average
10,456 mi/yr
Heavy usage
13,235 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 456 88.8% 24,074 34,738 50,531
2020 612 87.9% 27,500 40,339 57,031
2019 133 89.5% 24,989 34,592 47,678

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Last?

Based on 418 Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.1 years
Median
4.0 years

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
37,894 mi
75th Percentile
54,284 mi
95th Percentile
85,987 mi
Max Recorded
139,461 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

89.5% MOT pass rate from 133 tests

Year to avoid
2020

87.9% MOT pass rate from 612 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.5% across 133 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D THIS CAR 88.5% 1,283 37,894 mi — yrs
Mercedes-benz C 77.6% 8,031,355 77,082 mi 32 yrs
Mercedes-benz E 79.4% 4,722,746 83,960 mi 33 yrs
Mercedes-benz A-class 77.6% 4,204,702 57,023 mi 28 yrs
Kia Ceed Gt-line CRDI Isg MHEV 87.1% 497 39,428 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D?

The Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.5% across 1,283 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D owner drives around 8,987 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D reliable?
Based on 1,283 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D has a 88.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D does around 8,987 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz A 180 SE D is 2019 with a 89.5% pass rate across 133 tests.