Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 70.3% of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 23,432 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
85.2%
All cars: 86.1% (0.9 points worse). 2,801 tests.
At 6–10 years
76.6%
All cars: 76.1% (0.5 points better). 6,813 tests.
At 11 years and over
64.2%
All cars: 61.3% (2.9 points better). 13,818 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 684 | 85.5% | 87.8% | 43,750 miles |
| 4 | 951 | 84.9% | 86.4% | 63,750 miles |
| 5 | 1,166 | 85.2% | 84.5% | 86,250 miles |
| 6 | 1,246 | 80.8% | 81.9% | 91,250 miles |
| 7 | 1,239 | 80.3% | 79.3% | 91,250 miles |
| 8 | 1,227 | 77.1% | 76.3% | 101,250 miles |
| 9 | 1,531 | 74.9% | 73.1% | 108,750 miles |
| 10 | 1,570 | 71.8% | 70.0% | 126,250 miles |
| 11 | 1,310 | 70.1% | 66.9% | 128,750 miles |
| 12 | 1,223 | 66.1% | 64.4% | 133,750 miles |
| 13 | 1,133 | 67.3% | 62.1% | 133,750 miles |
| 14 | 1,018 | 67.0% | 60.2% | 141,250 miles |
| 15 | 972 | 66.3% | 58.6% | 141,250 miles |
| 16 | 954 | 67.2% | 57.5% | 138,750 miles |
| 17 | 1,096 | 63.0% | 57.2% | 146,250 miles |
| 18 | 921 | 62.4% | 57.0% | 138,750 miles |
| 19 | 829 | 60.7% | 57.2% | 131,250 miles |
| 20+ | 4,362 | 60.8% | 61.4% | 131,250 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Sprinter | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 24.4% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 23.4% | 10.2% |
| Suspension | 11.8% | 13.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.8% | 4.2% |
| Visibility | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| Tyres | 3.7% | 8.4% |
| Steering | 3.5% | 2.5% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements failed 5.0% of tests
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded failed 3.4% of tests · what this means
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 3.2% of tests · what this means
- Position lamp: not working failed 3.2% of tests · what this means
- Ball joint excessively worn failed 2.4% of tests · what this means
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength failed 2.3% of tests
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 2.1% of tests · what this means
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play failed 1.9% of tests · what this means
- Service brake performance: excessively binding failed 1.9% of tests · what this means
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction failed 1.8% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular Sprinter?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Sprinter version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: diesel 99.8%, petrol 0.2%, liquefied petrolum gas (lpg) 0.0%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Mercedes-Benz models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.