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Mercedes-Benz A-Class steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 173,010 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.1 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 173,010 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.1–0.2×) (all test years), 140 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 21 ages from 3 to 23 years, 1,360,594 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 6 years: 173,010 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.1 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). The Mercedes-Benz A-Class fails less often here.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class steering fails by age

Mercedes-Benz A-Class steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 141,475 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 161,782 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 171,041 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 173,010 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 148,489 MOT tests78 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 130,797 MOT tests9 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 105,453 MOT tests910 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 72,287 MOT tests11 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 50,730 MOT tests1112 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 33,511 MOT tests13 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 25,200 MOT tests1314 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 27,065 MOT tests15 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 27,947 MOT tests1516 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 26,573 MOT tests17 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 22,127 MOT tests1718 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 15,715 MOT tests19 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 10,656 MOT tests1920 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 7,083 MOT tests21 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 4,505 MOT tests2122 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 3,184 MOT tests23 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 1,964 MOT tests23
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mercedes-Benz A-Class All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
3141,4750.00.1
4161,7820.10.2
5171,0410.10.3
6173,0100.10.5
7148,4890.10.8
8130,7970.11.2
9105,4530.21.8
1072,2870.22.1
1150,7300.22.5
1233,5110.32.8
1325,2000.42.9
1427,0650.53.2
1527,9470.63.3
1626,5730.63.4
1722,1271.13.6
1815,7151.43.9
19*10,6561.34.1
20*7,0831.74.2
21*4,5051.24.2
22*3,1841.24.0
23*1,9641.43.9

All first-use years of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

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By engine and fuel

  • 1.5 diesel: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 68,529 MOT tests)
  • 1.3 petrol: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 34,451 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 0.0 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 27,694 MOT tests)
  • 2.1 diesel: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 26,321 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 petrol: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 12,328 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 3,590 MOT tests)
  • 1.5 petrol: 0.5 per 100 at 16 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 13,917 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint has slight play.

Check one Mercedes-Benz A-Class, not the average

The figures here describe Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mercedes-Benz A-Class problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mercedes-Benz A-Class have more steering problems than other cars?

0.1 to 0.2 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 6 years (all test years), from 173,010 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 12 of the 21 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Mercedes-Benz A-Class steering problems?

0.1 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 173,010 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,360,594 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare