Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 140, 82 PS, 5-speed manual | €422 | €1,600 | 94 | Petrol | 166940 | Manual (5) | 2001–2004 |
| A 160, 102 PS, 5-speed automatic Research | €443 | €2,990 | 63 | Petrol | 166960 | Automatic (5) | 2001–2004 |
| A 160, 102 PS, 5-speed manual | €429 | €1,499 | 63 | Petrol | 166960 | Manual (5) | 2001–2004 |
At a glance
- Years: built 1997 to 2004. The facelift came in 2001, and ADAC prefers those cars.
- Reliability: 3/5. ADAC calls it a reliable everyday car, but rust, the rear springs and the automatic gearbox need checking.
- DIY: 2/5. Front axle parts are quick jobs. Rust, rear axle and gearbox work need a workshop.
- Prefer: a 2001 or later car with a manual gearbox.
- Avoid: an automatic gearbox with no repair records. AUTO BILD advises against buying cars with it.
Engines and gearboxes
- Petrol M166 (A 140, A 160, A 190, A 210 Evolution): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- Diesel OM668 (A 160 CDI, A 170 CDI): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed manual, including Autoshift (automated clutch with no pedal): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed automatic: clutch plates in the gearbox can break. See Automatic gearbox below.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body rust | Many cars, especially door bottoms, sills and underbody | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Rear axle | Springs and bushes on all bodies | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Front axle wear | Tie rods, stabiliser bearings and bushes | Not stated | About 18 EUR for the stabiliser bearing, plus 18 minutes labour (AUTO BILD, Germany, 2004) |
| Automatic gearbox | 5-speed automatic, most reported on 1999 and 2002-2003 cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Test-drive the automatic gearbox in every gear, forward and reverse, and ask for repair records. ADAC lists the automatic gearbox among common faults. A gearbox with a fault needs a workshop check before you pay.
- Look under the car with a torch at the door bottoms, the sills and the underbody. Rust there is common (ADAC). Stone chips on the A-pillar rust quickly (AUTO BILD). No dismantling needed.
- Look at the rear springs from below. Broken springs on the rear trailing arms are easy to see (AUTO BILD). Ask whether the swing-arm bearings were replaced.
- Listen for rattling over bumps on the test drive. Worn tie rods and stabiliser bearings rattle (AUTO BILD).
- Read the TÜV report before you buy. AUTO BILD names the rear axle as the main TÜV criticism, and ADAC lists front-axle wear in TÜV findings.
- Check open recall campaigns by VIN with a Mercedes dealer. Cars built from 09/2000 to 01/2001 had a brake master cylinder recall, so ask whether it was done.
Running costs
| Operational | €223 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €103 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €100 |
| Total per month | €426 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €39 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 466
- 25th percentile
- €1,100
- Median price
- €1,700
- 75th percentile
- €2,500
- Median mileage
- 157,529 km
- Median first registration
- 2003
- Dealer share
- 32.6%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €2,398
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Body rust
Rust is a large problem for many cars. It starts on the lower door edges, the sills and the whole underbody (ADAC). AUTO BILD adds that stone chips on the A-pillar rust quickly. Its 2011 test car also had rust on the underbody, the rear axle side member and the cut edges of the side sill, and the factory rust protection was not enough.
Owner posts name the rear wheel arches and the door seams as the worst spots.
Fix: AUTO BILD advises checking the underbody on a lift. Where there is no rust yet, apply cavity wax (Hohlraumwachs).
Sources: ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004, AUTO BILD, used W168 test (2011), PistonHeads, Rust on cars, Especially Mercedes, DRIVE2, rust on a 2000 A 160
Rear axle
The rear springs break. AUTO BILD found broken springs on the rear trailing arms of its test car, and they are easy to see. The swing-arm bearings had play, and Mercedes replaced them under goodwill.
The rear axle is the main criticism of the TÜV inspection (AUTO BILD, 2004). ADAC names wear on the rear-axle bearing bushes and broken springs in its TÜV findings.
Sources: ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004, AUTO BILD, used W168 test (2011), AUTO BILD, Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004 buying advice (2004)
Front axle wear
Tie rods and stabiliser bearings wear out, and the front axle rattles. AUTO BILD also names worn stabiliser bushes and coupling rods (Koppelstangen). ADAC lists front-axle wear as a main TÜV finding.
Fix: replace the worn parts.
Cost: about 18 EUR for the stabiliser bearing, plus 18 minutes labour (AUTO BILD, Germany, 2004).
Sources: AUTO BILD, Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004 buying advice (2004), AUTO BILD, used W168 test (2011), ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004
Automatic gearbox
ADAC lists the automatic gearbox among the common component faults, most often on 1999 and 2002-2003 cars. AUTO BILD reports clutch plate breakage (Lamellenbruch) inside the automatic gearbox and advises against buying a car with it.
Sources: ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004, AUTO BILD, used W168 test (2011)
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany, 27,000 cars | not given | Built 09/2000 to 01/2001 | The brake master cylinder is replaced, because pedal travel can grow at low temperatures |
| Germany, 50,000 cars (other models too) | not given | Campaign 10/2005, build years not stated | The wiper arm can crack at the cover cut-out and come loose. Dealers check for a notch and replace the arm |
| Germany, 435 cars | not given | Campaign 11/2008, build years not stated | A wrong calibration number in the service software for the control unit. A software update takes about half an hour |
Maintenance
- Underbody: if the sills and underbody are still clean, apply cavity wax. AUTO BILD says the factory rust protection is not enough (2011).
- Front axle: replace worn stabiliser bearings and tie rods when they rattle. AUTO BILD priced a stabiliser bearing at about 18 EUR (2004).
- Service book: keep it complete. Without it, goodwill repairs are hard to get (AUTO BILD, 2004).
Sources
English
German
- ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004
- AUTO BILD, used W168 test (2011)
- AUTO BILD, Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse 1997-2004 buying advice (2004)
- CarWiki, Probleme mit der Mercedes A-Klasse