Used car guide

2013 Mercedes-Benz A: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Mercedes-Benz As, from 1,170 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,170MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
8,000typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for link ball joint covers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Mercedes-Benz As than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Link ball joint covers4.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A
    8.3% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Engine warning light2.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A
    4.1% All 2013 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wheels2.4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A
    3.3% All 2013 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.5% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 2% here, against 5.8% of all 2013 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 2.3% here, against 4.7% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 Mercedes-Benz A MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    28% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz A?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023734Tyres 13%
202217,786Tyres 24%
202129,555Tyres 26%
202035,472Tyres 29%
201942,686Tyres 30%
2018925Tyres 32%
2014509Tyres 33%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Mercedes-Benz As registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score