2017 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 1.6L Petrol · YO66 AAJ

A recurring pattern of light oil misting from the rear shock absorbers has emerged across the MOT history of this 2017 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, providing the clearest mechanical thread linking the test outcomes. On 10 March 2026 the vehicle passed its MOT, with both the offside and nearside rear shock absorbers flagged for light oil misting, replicating the nearside rear advisory recorded on 14 March 2022. Four tests have been documented in total, all resulting in passes, and none have produced any failure items. The only other recurring advisory concerns front tyre wear close to the legal limit on both edges, recorded on 19 March 2024 and 14 March 2022. Between these chronic minor items, the 2023 and 2025 tests returned clean sheets with no advisories or failures. Overall, the record indicates steady roadworthiness for test purposes, but with a consistent pattern of rear damper seepage and front tyre wear that warrants attention. The recorded mileage of 41,668 miles across nine years equates to an average of approximately 4,630 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age and likely reflects periods of limited use rather than sustained driving. There are no significant gaps between annual MOT tests, with testing consistently recorded each March from 2022 through 2026, suggesting the vehicle has remained on the road throughout. Such a low annual accumulation means that wear-sensitive components such as brake discs, pads, drive belts, and coolant hoses may have aged in calendar terms without accruing the equivalent mechanical mileage. Conversely, items that deteriorate through standing, including rubber bushes, battery health, tyre sidewalls, brake caliper pistons, and the rear shock absorber seals implicated in the advisories, may be closer to age-related replacement thresholds than the odometer alone would suggest. Given the repeated oil misting advisories on both rear shock absorbers, a prospective buyer should physically inspect the rear dampers for any staining of the body or build-up of dust and grime mixed with oil around the lower mounting areas, and should test drive the vehicle over undulating surfaces and speed bumps while listening for clonking or knocking noises that could indicate the oil loss is progressing toward seal failure. The shock absorbers may still function acceptably at low mileage, but their damping effectiveness should be judged by whether the rear of the car continues to settle promptly after being pushed down at the corners, and whether the body exhibits excessive float or secondary movement over crests. Replacing the rear pair together with new mounting kits is a foreseeable expense if the misting worsens at the next test. The recurring front tyre edge wear advisories from 2022 and 2024 point to a possible geometry issue that has not been definitively resolved. On a test drive, attention should be paid to any steering pull to one side, uneven steering wheel return after cornering, or a crooked steering wheel when driving straight on a flat road, all of which can indicate tracking misalignment. A rolling road alignment check is advisable to confirm camber and toe settings are within tolerance. Additionally, given the low mileage and likely extended standing periods, the brake system should be exercised firmly during the test drive from low speed, listening for any scraping, grinding, or judder through the pedal that could suggest corroded discs or seized caliper slides, and the handbrake holding ability should be verified on an incline to confirm the rear caliper mechanisms have not seized from disuse.