MOT failure data · 2025

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT problems

Across every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements, on 6.05% of failure items. The broadest problem area was brakes at 29.42%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements	Brakes	6.05%
2	Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded	Brakes	4.23%
3	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	3.29%
4	Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength	Suspension	2.97%
5	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	2.93%
6	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.84%
7	Track rod end ball joint has excessive play	Steering	2.31%
8	Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.27%
9	Service brake performance excessively binding	Brakes	2.23%
10	Rbt (sp) efficiency less than 50% of the required value	Brakes	2.17%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT FAQs

What does a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars failing their 2025 MOT was "rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements", appearing on 6.05% of failure items.

Does this mean my Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passed 75.47% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.