MOT statistics · 2023 tests

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT pass rate, common failures and mileage

In 2023, 73.0% of 211,162 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ended in a pass, 3.4 points below the 76.5% average for all cars. Comparing like for like at ages 3 to 10, it passed 74.5% against 82.0%, ranking 130th of 148 models.

Pass rate

73.0%

All cars 76.5%

Tests

211,162

Initial MOTs in 2023

Ages 3 to 10

74.5%

All cars 82.0% · rank 130 of 148

Mileage at 10

175k

Median; middle half 131k to 231k

Pass rate and mileage by age

Each row covers the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests at that age. Mileage shows the median and the middle half of odometer readings, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.

Age	Pass rate	Mileage
217,423 tests	78.5%	69,000 · 49k to 101k
322,838 tests	79.0%	87,000 · 59k to 125k
421,556 tests	80.4%	101,000 · 71k to 143k
516,985 tests	78.9%	119,000 · 83k to 165k
617,205 tests	75.8%	131,000 · 91k to 179k
716,348 tests	72.2%	147,000 · 103k to 199k
815,941 tests	71.7%	157,000 · 113k to 211k
914,401 tests	69.7%	167,000 · 123k to 225k
1011,557 tests	67.1%	175,000 · 131k to 231k
119,444 tests	67.0%	181,000 · 135k to 235k
128,313 tests	66.6%	181,000 · 137k to 235k
136,927 tests	66.9%	181,000 · 137k to 235k
145,585 tests	67.0%	183,000 · 137k to 237k
156,262 tests	66.3%	187,000 · 139k to 239k
164,563 tests	66.8%	183,000 · 133k to 239k
173,140 tests	67.0%	169,000 · 119k to 221k
182,884 tests	64.3%	167,000 · 117k to 217k
192,565 tests	63.3%	163,000 · 113k to 215k
202,193 tests	61.7%	163,000 · 113k to 211k
211,728 tests	64.6%	157,000 · 109k to 211k
221,143 tests	64.2%	161,000 · 109k to 213k
23609 tests	62.9%	171,000 · 125k to 225k
24510 tests	64.1%	159,000 · 109k to 215k
25368 tests	60.6%	151,000 · 103k to 213k

Sprinter pass rateAll cars at that ageMiddle half of mileages

Most common MOT failures and advisories

How often each item came up, per 100 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Advisories are things the tester noted that did not fail the car, often wear that will need attention soon. Follow an item to see what it means and how serious it is.

Failures

Brake performance

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

6.9in 100 tests

Side and tail lights

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.8in 100 tests

Brake performance

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value

3.2in 100 tests

Wiper blades

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

3.0in 100 tests

Warning lights

Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction

2.9in 100 tests

Brake pipes

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

2.4in 100 tests

Headlights

A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED

2.3in 100 tests

Brake lights

Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.2in 100 tests

Advisories and minor defects

Brake pipes

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

12.1in 100 tests

Engine oil leaks

Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

8.7in 100 tests

Brake discs

Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured

8.7in 100 tests

Windscreen

Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view (minor defect)

8.2in 100 tests

Brake pads

A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

4.6in 100 tests

Number plates

Number plate inscription missing or illegible

3.7in 100 tests

Track rod ends

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play

3.4in 100 tests

Suspension bushes

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

3.1in 100 tests

What to check on a used Sprinter

The parts that come up most often in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs, and how to look at them on a viewing.

Brake pipes and hoses
Look underneath at the metal brake pipes for heavy rust, and at the rubber hoses for cracks or bulges.
Oil leaks
Look under the engine and gearbox, and at the ground where the car was parked, for fresh oil.
Brake discs and pads
Ask when the discs and pads were last replaced, and look through the wheel for a raised lip on the edge of the disc.
Wipers, washers and windscreen
Run the wipers and washers, and look for chips or cracks in the windscreen, above all in front of the driver.
Braking
On the test drive, brake firmly on a straight road: the car should stop straight without pulling, and the handbrake should hold it on a slope.

Check a specific Sprinter

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?

In 2023, 73.0% of 211,162 initial MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ended in a pass, against 76.5% for all cars and light vans. At ages 3 to 10, with the same age mix as all cars, it was 74.5% against 82.0%.

What fails most often on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT?

The most common failures were brake performance (6.9 in 100 tests), side and tail lights (3.8 in 100 tests), brake performance (3.2 in 100 tests).

What is a normal mileage for a 10-year-old Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?

At 10 years old, the median Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at its MOT had covered 175,000 miles, and the middle half had between 131,000 and 231,000 miles.

What do MOT testers most often advise on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?

The most common advisories were brake pipes (12.1 in 100 tests), engine oil leaks (8.7 in 100 tests), brake discs (8.7 in 100 tests).

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Overall MOT pass rate in 2023. Compare all Mercedes-Benz models or see every make.

C-Class78.1%E-Class79.9%Sprinter73.0%Vito72.7%GLA88.6%A-Class89.3%GLC89.8%SLK75.9%CLA83.7%M-Class76.1%CLK67.1%GLE89.6%CLS77.5%SL84.9%Citan72.1%V-Class84.0%CLC60.5%SLC88.8%B-Class92.5%Viano71.3%

How these figures are made. We counted every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 from the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Pass rate is the share of initial tests that ended in a pass, counting faults fixed during the test. Age is whole years from first registration to the test, so a car having its first MOT a few weeks early counts as 2.

Like-for-like pass rates average each model's pass rate at ages 3 to 10 with the same age mix for every model, so a model is not flattered by a young fleet or penalised by an old one. Models are grouped by the first word of the DVSA model name, and names that cover several models are left out.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.