Used car guide

2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: petrol or diesel?

Petrol, diesel and hybrid versions go wrong in different ways, so each has its own figures from the MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Pick the one you’re looking at: the fuel is on the logbook and in the car’s MOT history.

Hybrid versions had too few MOTs for figures of their own, or weren’t sold.

Known faults on every 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Poor reliability: suspension and electrical faults

    All engines

    Faults were incredibly common, especially suspension and electrical ones, and the average repair bill was over £500.

    At the viewing: Get a pre-purchase inspection, listen for suspension knocks and test every electrical item.

    Source: What Car?: used Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005-2012) reliability

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

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Other years

Every year of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023738Tyres 13%
202218,713Tyres 23%
202160,031Tyres 25%
2020252Tyres 27%
201925,714Tyres 29%
2018119,754Tyres 32%
2017120,922Tyres 34%
2016113,202Tyres 33%
201579,796Tyres 34%
201468,784Tyres 34%
201343,599Tyres 33%
201215,427Brakes 32%
201116,093Brakes 37%
201018,296Brakes 41%
200819,943Brakes 47%
200717,982Brakes 45%
200613,121Brakes 47%
20058,721Brakes 41%
20043,765Brakes 52%
20033,911Brakes 53%
20022,845Brakes 51%
20011,837Brakes 49%
2000729Suspension 51%
1999496Suspension 53%
1998–Too few tests