Used car guide

2003 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs, from 974 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

974MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
3,600typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    39.7% All 2003 cars
    18.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Shock absorbers2.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    19% All 2003 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    10.3% All 2003 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    10.6% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Wheels3.5× usual
    Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    5.2% All 2003 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.4% of all 2003 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: 3% here, against 16.2% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    54% 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.

  • Suspension
    52% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Steering
    16% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20198,517Tyres 29%
201840,351Tyres 32%
201740,581Tyres 34%
201637,860Tyres 34%
201526,503Tyres 34%
201422,674Tyres 35%
201314,296Tyres 34%
20125,032Brakes 34%
20115,181Brakes 39%
20105,779Brakes 42%
20096,427Brakes 49%
20086,075Brakes 49%
20075,236Brakes 47%
20063,601Brakes 47%
20052,330Brakes 42%
2004907Brakes 51%
2002691Brakes 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Mercedes-Benz A-Classs registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score