Car statistics by year

2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars first registered in 2011: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2011, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. “2011” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
5,284 MOT tests of 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 66.0% All 2011 cars 61.5%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 71,900 miles; all 2011 cars 96,500
  • Left at the end of 2025 5,255 88.5% of the 5,935 at the end of 2014
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.6% All 2011 cars 9.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 59.3% All 2011 cars 64.7%
  • MOT tests in 2025 5,284 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 14 years old, 66.0% of 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 61.5% for all cars first registered in 2011. 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes did better than average for their age, by 4.5 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 65.7% of the time (all 2011 cars 62.1%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Mercedes-Benz A-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz A-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz A-ClassAll cars
’05 59.8%57.7%
’06 57.4%56.9%
’07 57.7%57.3%
’08 57.9%57.0%
’09 59.5%58.2%
’10 62.4%59.3%
’11 66.0%61.5%
’12 66.7%63.6%
’13 68.6%66.0%
’14 69.4%69.1%
’15 72.0%72.6%
’16 75.3%75.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Side repeaters: not working was the most common single reason a 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class failed, on 13.9% of about 1,800 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (46.4% of failed tests; all 2011 cars 43.8%). 6.6% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.8% for all cars first registered in 2011. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Side repeaters: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 13.9%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 11.9%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 9.6%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 9.3%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 9.0%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 8.7%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded Brakes 8.5%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 6.8%
Horn: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 6.5%
Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension 6.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs all 2011 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2011 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 46.4%
Brakes 28.1%
Suspension 27.6%
Visibility 20.8%
Tyres 14.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks 13.6%
Body, chassis, structure 10.1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 2.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 59.3% of 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class tests had at least one (all 2011 cars 64.7%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes 21.5%
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 16.8%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 12.6%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 10.4%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 6.1%
Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension 4.3%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 3.5%
Fuel pipes corroded Non-component advisories 2.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 2.7%
Coil spring: corroded Suspension 2.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

Half of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 71,900 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 52,600 and a quarter more than 92,500. For all cars first registered in 2011, the middle figure was 96,500 miles, so 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes have been driven 25.5% less far than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class and all 2011 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 38,800 52,600 71,900 92,500 115,300 5,095
All 2011 cars 50,600 71,400 96,500 124,000 152,200 1,271,944
miles

Half of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 71,900 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes are left?

At the end of 2014, 5,935 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 5,255 were: 5,040 licensed and 215 declared off the road (SORN). That is 88.5% still on the record, against 78.7% for all cars first registered in 2011.

Share still on the record since 2014

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2014, compared with all 2011 cars
Year end 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-ClassAll 2011 cars
2014 100.0%100.0%
2015 102.4%100.6%
2016 103.2%100.1%
2017 102.7%99.0%
2018 101.6%97.6%
2019 101.0%96.1%
2020 99.9%94.5%
2021 98.9%92.9%
2022 97.6%90.6%
2023 95.9%87.4%
2024 92.0%83.4%
2025 88.5%78.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2011

10 of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class’s 92 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2011. 3 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2011 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2011 may have been built in 2010, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class recalls whose build dates include 2011
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
13 Dec 2021 Update to improve emissions 13 May 2010 to 2 May 2012 6,014 (all models)
17 Aug 2021 The driver's air bag may have a chemical change to its propellant over time 30 Aug 2004 to 4 Dec 2013 61 (all models)
17 Aug 2021 The driver's air bag may have a chemical change to its propellant over time 30 Aug 2004 to 4 Dec 2013 108,486 (all models)
11 Jun 2018 Electrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded 1 Nov 2011 to 31 Jul 2017 78,608 (all models)
11 May 2018 Steering components may be insufficiently grounded 1 Nov 2011 to 31 Jul 2017 74,329 (all models)
9 Apr 2018 Electrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded 1 Nov 2011 to 31 Jul 2017 67,027 (all models)
18 Dec 2017 Electrical wiring in steering assembly may be insufficiently grounded 1 Nov 2011 to 31 Jul 2017 46,093 (all models)
20 Jun 2017 Vacuum line brake booster may break 1 Apr 2011 to 30 Apr 2013 4,787 (all models)
14 Jul 2015 Possibility of loss of drive 1 Sept 2011 to 30 Jun 2013 3,890 (all models)
18 May 2012 Transmission may not operate correctly 1 Feb 2011 to 30 Jun 2011 51 (all models)

Every Mercedes-Benz A-Class recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class

21 years of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2011 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (66.0% passed first time) and the 2003 cars worst (53.7%).

Mercedes-Benz A-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2002 1,648 56.1% 59.7%
2003 1,767 53.7% 58.9%
2004 1,362 54.5% 57.9%
2005 2,859 59.8% 57.7%
2006 4,101 57.4% 56.9%
2007 5,439 57.7% 57.3%
2008 6,119 57.9% 57.0%
2009 6,384 59.5% 58.2%
2010 5,849 62.4% 59.3%
2011 5,255 66.0% 61.5%
2012 5,173 66.7% 63.6%
2013 15,547 68.6% 66.0%
2014 26,140 23,503 69.4% 69.1%
2015 28,190 26,667 72.0% 72.6%
2016 39,354 37,643 75.3% 75.6%
2017 41,620 40,333 77.9% 79.1%
2018 41,604 40,090 82.5% 81.8%
2019 47,934 45,919 85.3% 84.4%
2020 34,881 33,393 87.5% 86.9%
2021 28,422 27,095 89.7% 88.4%
2022 17,195 16,305 90.7% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 5,284 MOT tests of 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 5,255 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars first registered in 2011; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2011.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.