Used Mercedes A-Class 2018-present reliability

Category: Family car

The A-Class is a classy, highly desirable and good to drive family hatch, but there's a doubt over its reliability.

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Used Mercedes A-Class 2018-present review
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What should I look for in a used Mercedes A Class hatchback?

The A-Class is quite long for a family car and the seating position is low, with awkward visibility out of the rear. With that in mind, check the extremities of the car carefully for any dents or dings. Also, check the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Make sure the rear seats fold as they should and that the tailgate opens and shuts properly. It’s worth checking any electrical equipment on board as well to make sure it all works.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

What are the most common problems with a used Mercedes A Class hatchback?

Seat height adjustment

A faulty weld on the seat height adjuster for the front left seat could fail on examples manufactured between 16 October and 30 November 2018. Affected cars will need to have the tilt adjuster replaced at a Mercedes dealership to sort the issue.

Airbag

A small number of A-Class' built between 1 June and 30 August 2018 may have an issue with a perforated seam in the dashboard that could damage the airbag in the event of it being deployed. Find out if your car is affected because it'll need to be checked by a technician, and if it is, have the dashboard replaced.

Brake hose leak

A problem with the length of the shock absorbers in the suspension system at the rear could put the brake hoses at the back under too much tension, with the potential for them to be damaged and ultimately leak brake fluid. The applies to cars built from 1 March to 30 November 2018 and will need to be inspected at a Mercedes dealership and have the brake hoses replaced, if necessary.

Protective plating under the spare wheel well

The plating under the spare wheel well of some vehicles made from 1 January to 31 July 2018 could tear and will need to be replaced on affected vehicles.

Sliding glass roof

The glass panel of the sliding roof may not have been bonded to the frame correctly at the factory. It affects only a small number of cars built on 13 October 2018, but if yours is one of those affected, it'll need to have the whole sliding roof mechanism replaced.

Emergency call system

A problem with the software for the emergency call system on some A-Class' constructed from 1 January to 30 April 2018 means it'll need to be reprogrammed at a dealer. Find out from your Mercedes dealer if this applies to your car.

Engine crankshaft

The crankshaft in some cars built between 1 February and 31 March 2019 could have surface damage that would limit the longevity of the engine. If your A-Class is affected by this recall, it'll need to have the engine replaced.

Starter wiring harness

The wiring for the starter may need to be inspected by a technician if your vehicle was manufactured between 1 April and 30 June 2018 because it may not have been installed correctly at the factory.

Driver's airbag

Some of the bolts securing the driver's airbag in place might be missing on early examples built from 1 August and 31 December 2018. Speak to your local Mercedes dealer to find out if your A-Class is one of those affected by this recall.

Gas generator

A problem with the mounting of the lines for the argon gas system fitted to some A-Class' made between 6-10 May 2019. This will need to be inspected by a technician, so contact your local Mercedes dealer for further information.

2018 Mercedes A-Class rear seats

Is a used Mercedes A Class hatchback reliable?

Unfortunately, Mercedes as a brand didn’t do particularly well in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, ranking 23rd out of 32 manufacturers. This version of the A-Class didn’t do very well in the family car category, either. In a class of 37, it came in 34th place.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.