Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,260,549 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 33.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is one of the most widely tested vehicles in the UK, with 1,260,549 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 31 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.5% and a failure rate of 33.5%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Mercedes-Benz Sprinter presents for MOT with approximately 147,536 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2022 models achieve the highest pass rate at 85.1%, while 1992 models have the lowest at 44.1%. This 41.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is Brakes, affecting 49.1% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 35.6%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 32.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
Based on MOT data, 2020 models have the highest pass rate at 76.2%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 1997 to 2021
| Built | Pass Rate | Tests | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 76.2% | 22,909 | 🏆 Best |
| 2019 | 75.1% | 31,150 | ✅ Great |
| 2021 | 74.7% | 3,137 | ✅ Great |
| 2018 | 73.8% | 23,410 | 👍 Good |
| 2017 | 69.6% | 23,143 | ⚠️ Fair |
| 2016 | 69.2% | 19,977 | ⚠️ Fair |
| 2015 | 65.7% | 20,403 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2014 | 64.9% | 19,117 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2013 | 62.2% | 15,976 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2001 | 61.6% | 1,504 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2000 | 61.1% | 930 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2010 | 61.0% | 8,920 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2008 | 60.6% | 7,298 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2009 | 60.6% | 6,277 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2003 | 60.5% | 2,365 | ❌ Avoid |
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 26 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vintages degrade over time, from age 1 to 28 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 24% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 20 (45.2% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 49.1% | 619,064 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 41.7% | 525,156 |
| 3 | Suspension | 32.3% | 406,538 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.7% | 198,535 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.8% | 136,624 |
| 6 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 8.7% | 109,111 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 7.9% | 99,640 |
| 8 | Steering | 7.7% | 97,018 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 7.1% | 89,010 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.4% | 30,468 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.4% | 30,350 |
| 12 | Driver's View Of The Road | 1.8% | 22,464 |
| 13 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.8% | 9,455 |
| 14 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.5% | 5,773 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 147,536 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 3.33 | 49.1% | 619,064 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.82 | 41.7% | 525,156 |
| Suspension | 2.19 | 32.3% | 406,538 |
| Tyres | 1.07 | 15.7% | 198,535 |
| Visibility | 0.85 | 12.6% | 159,088 |
| Body & Structure | 0.59 | 8.7% | 109,095 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.59 | 8.7% | 109,111 |
| Steering | 0.52 | 7.7% | 97,018 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.48 | 7.1% | 89,010 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.16 | 2.4% | 30,468 |
| Seat Belts | 0.16 | 2.4% | 30,350 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.03 | 0.5% | 5,773 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has 147,536 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.27% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT Data
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is one of the most widely tested vehicles in the UK, with 1,260,549 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 31 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.5% and a failure rate of 33.5%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes-Benz Sprinter owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Sprinter is likely to perform.
Brakes — 49.1% of failures
Brakes issues account for 49.1% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.6% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 35.6% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 32.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 32.2% of MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Based on 1,260,549 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has an overall pass rate of 66.5% (33.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (49.1%), 2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (35.6%), 3. Suspension (32.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?
With a 33.5% MOT failure rate, the Sprinter is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (49.1%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (35.6%); Suspension (32.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.