Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz A-Class build years & generations

Coverage 2004-20253 named generationsHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class spans several build years and named generations (2004-2025). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mercedes-Benz A-Class generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2004
Generation
W169
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
W169
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2011
Generation
W169
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with W169 and W176 cars built in the same years.
Built 2012
Generation
W176
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with W169 and W176 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
W176
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017
Generation
W176
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with W176 and W177/V177 cars built in the same years.
Built 2018-2020
Generation
W177/V177
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with W176 and W177/V177 cars built in the same years.
Built 2021-2025
Generation
W177/V177
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2004	W169	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	W169	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2011	W169	2009-2012	Counted together with W169 and W176 cars built in the same years.
2012	W176	2009-2012	Counted together with W169 and W176 cars built in the same years.
2013-2016	W176	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017	W176	2017-2020	Counted together with W176 and W177/V177 cars built in the same years.
2018-2020	W177/V177	2017-2020	Counted together with W176 and W177/V177 cars built in the same years.
2021-2025	W177/V177	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Mercedes-Benz A-Class build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

W177/V177 only

All W177/V177 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

9.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

22,284

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

8,6598.3%

4 years

13,6259.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

A mix of W176 and W177/V177

These build years include both W176 and W177/V177 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

16.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

188,752

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

12,53910.9%

5 years

41,84512.0%

6 years

56,14913.7%

7 years

48,17416.3%

8 years

30,04518.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

W176 only

These build years are all W176, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

23.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

130,954

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

19,55419.4%

9 years

42,40920.7%

10 years

33,39022.9%

11 years

26,04924.0%

12 years

9,55223.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of W169 and W176

These build years include both W169 and W176 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

29.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

30,631

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

2,05126.8%

13 years

7,80625.1%

14 years

7,21127.1%

15 years

8,76828.7%

16 years

4,79529.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

W169 only

These build years are all W169, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

29.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

23,828

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

3,69130.7%

17 years

8,07030.7%

18 years

6,07230.3%

19 years

4,51131.1%

20 years

1,48429.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

W169 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the W169.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

34.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

4,475

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

46432.8%

21 years

1,50233.8%

22 years

1,09132.5%

23 years

81632.6%

24 years

30228.8%

25+ years

30034.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 25+ years old.