Known APK problem

Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176: brakes

On the Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 80% more often than on cars of the same age: at 13–15 years 5.2%, against about 2.9% nationally.

Illustration Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	A-Klasse W176	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	A	0.5%	0.3 – 0.8%	1.3%	0.4×	3,721
7 – 8 years	B	1.2%	0.9 – 1.6%	1.5%	0.8×	3,721
7 – 8 years	C	3.8%	3.3 – 4.5%	2.5%	1.5×	3,721
9 – 10 years	A	0.8%	0.6 – 1.0%	2.0%	0.4×	5,818
9 – 10 years	B	1.4%	1.2 – 1.8%	1.6%	0.9×	5,818
9 – 10 years	C	4.3%	3.8 – 4.8%	2.7%	1.6×	5,818
11 – 12 years	A	0.7%	0.5 – 1.0%	3.5%	0.2×	6,207
11 – 12 years	B	1.4%	1.2 – 1.8%	1.7%	0.8×	6,207
11 – 12 years	C	4.3%	3.8 – 4.8%	2.9%	1.5×	6,207
13 – 15 years	A	0.9%	0.6 – 1.4%	4.5%	0.2×	2,245
13 – 15 years	B	1.7%	1.2 – 2.3%	1.9%	0.9×	2,245
13 – 15 years	C	5.2%	4.4 – 6.2%	2.9%	1.8×	2,245

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 13–15 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176	5.2%	1.8×
Opel Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC	3.3%	0.8×
SEAT Leon II	5.6%	1.4×
Suzuki SX4 I	8.4%	2.1×
Lexus CT 200h	1.5%	0.4×
Hyundai i30 II	4.8%	1.2×

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 13–15 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 5.2% of inspected Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176s, against about 2.9% of all cars of the same age (1.8×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know