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Mercedes-benz A180 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz A180 car check

Is the Mercedes-benz A180 reliable? We analysed 1,061 real MOT tests across 238 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,061 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.0%
Typical Mileage
46,667mi
Annual Mileage
5,754mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
13yrs

The Mercedes-benz A180 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz A180.

Mercedes-benz A180 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz A180. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz A180 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz A180 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.4%
2019
86.4%
2018
83.8%
2017
85.1%
2016
83.3%
2015
82.4%
2014
89.4%
2013

Mercedes-benz A180 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz A180 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 21

Mercedes-benz A180 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz A180 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,374 mi/yr
Typical
5,754 mi/yr
Average
6,413 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,519 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz A180 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz A180 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 52 90.4% 18,925 31,526 41,133
2018 66 86.4% 35,529 45,278 57,721
2017 99 83.8% 28,594 42,344 64,306
2016 141 85.1% 28,136 42,343 58,367
2015 150 83.3% 32,800 46,578 65,232
2014 142 82.4% 36,255 49,946 67,636
2013 227 89.4% 37,555 52,307 62,404

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz A180 Last?

Based on 238 Mercedes-benz A180 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.7 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
13 years

Mercedes-benz A180 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz A180 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,667 mi
75th Percentile
64,969 mi
95th Percentile
89,103 mi
Max Recorded
151,161 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz A180

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

Best year
2019

90.4% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
2014

82.4% MOT pass rate from 142 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz A180 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.4% across 52 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.4% — 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 A180 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz A180 THIS CAR 85.0% 1,061 46,667 mi 13 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
Cpi Aragon 125 73% 403 7,407 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz A180 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz A180?

The Mercedes-benz A180 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.0% across 1,061 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 A180 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 A180 owner drives around 5,754 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.

In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz A180 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

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 A180 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz A180 reliable?
Based on 1,061 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz A180 has a 85.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz A180?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz A180 do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz A180 does around 5,754 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz A180 last?
Most Mercedes-benz A180 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years based on our analysis of 238 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz A180?
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 A180?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz A180 is 2019 with a 90.4% pass rate across 52 tests.