MOT History from tests of petrol MERCEDES BENZ A-CLASSs year 1998

Review the list of common MERCEDES BENZ A-CLASS failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your MERCEDES BENZ then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:48.78%

(The average a petrol MERCEDES BENZ A-CLASS year 1998 passes without issue)

Based on:24,977 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	2615
Brake pipe excessively corroded	2597
Registration plate lamp issues	2215
Headlamp aim out of alignment	2188
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	1458
Registration plate issues	736
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	693
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	676
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	616
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	614
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	566
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	530
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	527
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	424
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	405
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	391
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	391
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	390
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	357
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	338
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	332
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	302
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	296
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	290
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	286
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	284
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	279
Headlamp switch faulty \|1.7.1\|	274
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	270
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	269
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	262
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	258
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	234
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	232
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	228
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	213
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	212
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	204
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	198
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	198
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	198
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	195
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	185
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	176
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	174
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	171
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	168
Rear brake binding	164
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	164
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	163
Brake hose damaged	159
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	156
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	151
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	147
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	147
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	142
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	137
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	136
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	134
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	132
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	127
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	126
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	117
Nearside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	117
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	113
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	110
Power steering inoperative \|2.3.3a\|	110
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	109
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	107
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	105
Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	103
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	100
Offside Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened \|2.4.G.1\|	99
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	99
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	98
Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams \|1.7.4b\|	98
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	98
Windscreen has damage	96
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	94
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	91
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	91
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	90
Front brake application uneven	90
Nearside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	89
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	89
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	86
Dipswitch operation does not extinguish all main beam headlamps leaving at least one pair of dipped beam headlamps \|1.7.4b\|	84
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	82
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	80
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	80
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	80
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	79
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	79
Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	76
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	74
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	69
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	69
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	66
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	65
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	64
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	62
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	62
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	61
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	60
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	60
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	59
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	59
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	55
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	53
Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing \|2.4.G.2\|	53
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	53
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	53
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	52
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	51
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	51
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	50
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	49
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	47
Nearside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	47
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	46
Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened \|2.4.G.1\|	46
Nearside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing \|2.4.G.2\|	46
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	45
Offside Obligatory mirror insecure \|8.1.1\|	45
Power steering malfunctioning \|2.3.3a\|	44
Offside Headlamp aim not tested \|1.8.A.1c\|	44
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely by positive means \|7.2.4b\|	44
Rear brake application uneven	43
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	43
Nearside Rear coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	42
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	42
Headlamp aim not tested \|1.8.A.1c\|	41
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	40
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	40
Nearside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	40
Indicator switch faulty \|1.4.A.1\|	39
Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	39
Fuel cap/sealing device missing \|7.2.4a\|	39
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	39
Offside Rear Coil spring not correctly located \|2.4.C.2\|	39
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	39
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	39

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

MOT History from tests of petrol MERCEDES BENZ A-CLASSs year 1998

Find us on Facebook