IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
1999 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168)

The launch year brought Mercedes into the supermini market for the first time, but the infamous Swedish "elk test" rollover incident forced a hasty recall within months. ESP was retrofitted as standard, fundamentally changing the car's character.

What changed for 1999

  • •Initial launch with passive safety only
  • •ESP retrofitted after elk test failure
  • •Sandwich floor concept introduced

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Rear spring mount corrosion
  • !Front spring perch rust
  • !Floor seam deterioration
3
Known Issues
2
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

The 1999 period has 3 more issues than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168) average across all year periods.

All Known Issues

Rear axle and floor corrosion

SeriousBodywork & Rust

Older W168s can corrode around the rear axle mounts and floor seams badly.

Estimated cost: £400–£1,500+Affects: 1998–2005Often appears around: Age-related

Typical symptoms

  • •Corrosion advisories
  • •Crunchy jacking points

What to inspect before you buy

  • ✓Rear axle mount areas
  • ✓Inner sills and floor seams

CVT / Sequentronic gearbox failure

SeriousGearbox & Transmission

The CVT and semi-automatic Sequentronic gearboxes can suffer from wear to the variator, clutch packs and mechatronic units. Repairs are often uneconomical on higher-mileage cars.

Most affected: A 140 CVT, A 160 CVT, A 190 Sequentronic

Estimated cost: £800–£2,500Affects: 1998–2005Often appears around: 60,000–100,000 miles

Typical symptoms

  • •Whining noise from gearbox
  • •Judder when pulling away
  • •Car goes into limp mode

What to inspect before you buy

  • ✓Smooth pull-away from standstill
  • ✓Full gearbox service history
  • ✓Check for whining under load

Water ingress and electrical faults

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

Blocked sunroof drains and degraded door seals allow water into the cabin, which can corrode underfloor electronics and wiring connectors, causing random warning lights and intermittent faults.

Estimated cost: £100–£600Affects: 1998–2005Often appears around: Age-related

Typical symptoms

  • •Damp carpet in footwells
  • •Random dashboard warning lights
  • •Intermittent electrical gremlins

What to inspect before you buy

  • ✓Check footwells and spare wheel well for damp
  • ✓Operate all electric windows and mirrors
  • ✓Inspect door and sunroof seals

Buying Tips for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168)

  • ✓Avoid very early 1998 production cars that may have incomplete ESP fixes
  • ✓Check for water ingress damage to underfloor electronics
1998 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168)2000 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168)

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Other Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168) Year Periods

19981999200020012002–200320042005

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