Mercedes-benz Sprinter Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Sprinter car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Sprinter reliable? We analysed 4,037,050 real MOT tests across 408,496 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Sprinter? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Sprinter is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, position lamp(s) not working and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Sprinter.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Sprinter. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Sprinter to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz Sprinter fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Sprinter owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Sprinter year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 275 | 75.3% | 26,423 | 46,453 | 63,977 |
| 2022 | 1,530 | 84.6% | 23,458 | 43,697 | 69,891 |
| 2021 | 7,600 | 84.0% | 25,606 | 52,390 | 83,592 |
| 2020 | 71,407 | 81.2% | 57,886 | 88,066 | 129,781 |
| 2019 | 133,092 | 79.5% | 64,053 | 97,543 | 141,084 |
| 2018 | 125,169 | 80.1% | 67,421 | 105,377 | 152,440 |
| 2017 | 159,778 | 79.4% | 71,837 | 109,930 | 159,110 |
| 2016 | 160,275 | 78.5% | 77,065 | 120,464 | 174,916 |
| 2015 | 196,727 | 77.3% | 81,538 | 124,409 | 178,002 |
| 2014 | 210,467 | 76.6% | 85,578 | 128,763 | 183,197 |
| 2013 | 204,129 | 74.8% | 90,760 | 136,051 | 193,206 |
| 2012 | 190,676 | 73.0% | 94,288 | 140,252 | 196,154 |
| 2011 | 180,583 | 72.8% | 97,484 | 144,308 | 199,338 |
| 2010 | 194,543 | 72.5% | 97,482 | 144,569 | 198,896 |
| 2009 | 158,569 | 71.7% | 94,026 | 142,212 | 197,112 |
| 2008 | 230,577 | 70.1% | 98,824 | 146,235 | 200,121 |
| 2007 | 237,670 | 69.9% | 100,194 | 148,046 | 202,498 |
| 2006 | 179,670 | 69.6% | 94,138 | 141,430 | 197,503 |
| 2005 | 189,274 | 69.1% | 92,806 | 139,037 | 192,908 |
| 2004 | 220,263 | 67.8% | 93,448 | 137,634 | 190,176 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Sprinter Last?
Based on 408,496 Mercedes-benz Sprinter vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Sprinter Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Sprinter MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Sprinter
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.6% MOT pass rate from 1,530 tests
58.4% MOT pass rate from 243 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Sprinter is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.6% across 1,530 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mercedes-benz Sprinter Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Sprinter THIS CAR | 71.9% | 4,037,050 | 137,608 mi | 30 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz C | 77.6% | 8,031,355 | 77,082 mi | 32 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz E | 79.4% | 4,722,746 | 83,960 mi | 33 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz A-class | 77.6% | 4,204,702 | 57,023 mi | 28 yrs |
| Toyota Aygo | 80.7% | 3,073,569 | 41,749 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Sprinter trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Sprinter you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz SprinterShould you buy a used Mercedes-benz Sprinter?
The Mercedes-benz Sprinter has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.9% across 4,037,050 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz Sprinter are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (175,127 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (92,747), and registration plate lamp not working (78,072). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Mercedes-benz Sprinter owner drives around 10,964 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz Sprinter models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.