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Van · 1996–2021 cars

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter fails 29.2% of first MOT tests, 13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 76,326 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 62/100#2 of 40 vans

Checking a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
29.2%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
13% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
76,326
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
14,100
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ages

Each point is the share of Mercedes-Benz Sprinters of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%15%30%45%60%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Mercedes-Benz SprinterAll cars
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Mercedes-Benz SprinterAll cars
314.9%12.3%
415.5%14.1%
516.6%16.4%
618.7%19.1%
722.3%22.1%
823.8%25.5%
926.4%28.8%
1027%31.8%
1131.5%34.6%
1231.6%37.3%
1331.7%39.5%
1434.6%41.1%
1534.5%42.3%
1634.6%42.9%
1738.8%43.4%
1839%43.5%
1940.3%43.4%
2039.4%42.8%
2138%41.4%
2240.2%40.6%
2336%38.9%
2441.4%37.1%
2546.4%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Mercedes-Benz Sprinter years

2017 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
202144519.6%28% more fails45,857
2020 Sprinter1,87414.4%11% fewer fails46,634
2019 Sprinter3,12716.8%6% fewer fails63,826
2018 Sprinter4,01216%17% fewer fails69,509
2017 Sprinter4,75315.8%26% fewer fails82,760
2016 Sprinter4,21722.4%5% fewer fails91,475
2015 Sprinter5,40322.9%16% fewer fails110,175
2014 Sprinter5,04725.4%16% fewer fails121,106
2013 Sprinter4,22526.1%20% fewer fails125,628
2012 Sprinter4,05231.9%8% fewer fails123,313
2011 Sprinter3,64230%19% fewer fails134,829
2010 Sprinter3,74431.5%18% fewer fails137,728
2009 Sprinter2,93631.3%22% fewer fails133,469
2008 Sprinter3,88234.8%17% fewer fails133,379
2007 Sprinter3,65534.5%20% fewer fails140,926
2006 Sprinter3,12436.9%14% fewer fails138,251
2005 Sprinter3,17937.2%13% fewer fails124,925
2004 Sprinter3,37341.1%5% fewer fails127,950
2003 Sprinter3,04439.4%9% fewer fails131,624
2002 Sprinter2,88440.3%6% fewer fails129,168
2001 Sprinter2,21137.7%11% fewer fails134,298
2000 Sprinter1,33639.8%5% fewer fails144,013
199993841.3%2% more fails145,041
199894045.9%17% more fails135,058
199724143.2%11% more fails127,413

Common problems

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Its weak spot is brakes: 45% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Lights and electrics14.7%3% below avg
  • Brakes13.4%45% above avg
  • Suspension6.5%46% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.2%6% below avg
  • Body, chassis and structure4.4%18% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.3%28% below avg
  • Steering2.8%0% below avg
  • Tyres2.7%59% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags2%13% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.15% of tests

    The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.

  2. 2

    Position lamp not working 2.47% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  3. 3

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.43% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

  4. 4

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.12% of tests

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  5. 5

    Parking brake efficiency under half required 1.61% of tests

    The parking brake is well below required strength and is unlikely to hold the car on a slope.

  6. 6

    Stop lamp not working 1.51% of tests

    A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

  7. 7

    Rear fog lamp not working 1.5% of tests

    A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.

  8. 8

    Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 1.41% of tests

    Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's MOT certificate most often.

  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy11.77%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored8.95%
  • Slight play in steering rack joints6.98%
  • Suspension ball joint slight play6.58%
  • Tyre worn close to legal limit6.15%
  • Engine oil leak, not excessive5.18%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

  1. 1

    Parking brake efficiency below minimum

    The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.

  2. 2

    Position lamp not working

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  3. 3

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

  4. 4

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Mercedes-Benz Sprinter covers about 14,100 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Diesel99.8%
  • Petrol0.2%
  • LPG0.1%
  • Other0%

Most common colours

White, Silver, Yellow, Blue, Grey

Average engine size: 2.3 litres.

Compare

How the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter compares with its rivals

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter29.2%13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Master34.9%about average for its age
Citroën Nemo41.5%22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot Bipper41.8%23% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Transit Courier29.5%37% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan NV20042.6%51% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz Citan37.2%52% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Mercedes-Benz models.

Questions

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter questions, answered

Is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?

On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is about average: it fails 29.2% of first MOT tests, 13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 2 of 40 van models in our index.

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.15% of tests), position lamp not working (2.47% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.43% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 14.7% of its tests.

Which Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2017 cars do best (26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter do a year?

A typical Mercedes-Benz Sprinter covers about 14,100 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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