1997 Mercedes Sprinter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

50.0%

Latest Pass Rate

13,715

Total Tests (All Years)

167,960 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes Sprinter as it ages.

12 yrs41.6%

→ ↓1.0%

13 yrs40.6%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs40.1%

→ ↑2.4%

15 yrs42.5%

→ ↓2.0%

16 yrs40.5%

→ ↑1.3%

17 yrs41.8%

→ ↑1.0%

18 yrs42.8%

→ ↑6.9%

19 yrs49.7%

→ ↑0.6%

20 yrs50.3%

→ ↓0.3%

21 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.5%

22 yrs49.5%

→ ↑0.5%

23 yrs50.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	41.6%	2,987
13 yrs	40.6%	2,515
14 yrs	40.1%	2,093
15 yrs	42.5%	1,491
16 yrs	40.5%	1,192
17 yrs	41.8%	970
18 yrs	42.8%	837
19 yrs	49.7%	716
20 yrs	50.3%	356
21 yrs	50.0%	212
22 yrs	49.5%	190
23 yrs	50.0%	156

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes Sprinter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	50%	156
2019 (22 yrs)	49.5%	190
2018 (21 yrs)	50%	212
2017 (20 yrs)	50.3%	356
2016 (19 yrs)	49.7%	716
2015 (18 yrs)	42.8%	837
2014 (17 yrs)	41.8%	970
2013 (16 yrs)	40.5%	1,192
2012 (15 yrs)	42.5%	1,491
2011 (14 yrs)	40.1%	2,093
2010 (13 yrs)	40.6%	2,515
2009 (12 yrs)	41.6%	2,987

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 2,987Avg Mileage 197,903Top Failure Brakes — 46.1%

2010High Fail Rate

40.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,515Avg Mileage 201,763Top Failure Brakes — 47.0%

2011High Fail Rate

40.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,093Avg Mileage 201,215Top Failure Brakes — 46.7%

2012High Fail Rate

42.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,491Avg Mileage 200,276Top Failure Brakes — 45.7%

2013High Fail Rate

40.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,192Avg Mileage 201,565Top Failure Brakes — 156.7%

2014High Fail Rate

41.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 970Avg Mileage 199,528Top Failure Brakes — 152.7%

2015High Fail Rate

42.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 837Avg Mileage 197,560Top Failure Brakes — 144.1%

2016High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 716Avg Mileage 196,792Top Failure Brakes — 112.0%

2017High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 356Avg Mileage 189,260Top Failure Brakes — 113.8%

2018High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 212Avg Mileage 175,235Top Failure Brakes — 96.2%

2019High Fail Rate

49.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 190Avg Mileage 184,559Top Failure Brakes — 118.9%

2020High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 156Avg Mileage 167,960Top Failure Brakes — 109.6%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes Sprinter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	41.6%	2,987	197,903	Brakes — 46.1%
2010	13	40.6%	2,515	201,763	Brakes — 47.0%
2011	14	40.1%	2,093	201,215	Brakes — 46.7%
2012	15	42.5%	1,491	200,276	Brakes — 45.7%
2013	16	40.5%	1,192	201,565	Brakes — 156.7%
2014	17	41.8%	970	199,528	Brakes — 152.7%
2015	18	42.8%	837	197,560	Brakes — 144.1%
2016	19	49.7%	716	196,792	Brakes — 112.0%
2017	20	50.3%	356	189,260	Brakes — 113.8%
2018	21	50.0%	212	175,235	Brakes — 96.2%
2019	22	49.5%	190	184,559	Brakes — 118.9%
2020	23	50.0%	156	167,960	Brakes — 109.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes Sprinter, with age trends.

Brakes

99.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

73.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

68.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

67.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

50.6%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	46.1% (12 yrs)	109.6% (23 yrs)	+63.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	33.4% (12 yrs)	79.5% (23 yrs)	+46.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes Sprinter page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Sprinter cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 13,715 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.