MOT fail rates by first-use year
2008 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 4,697 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 17 years old, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used in 2008 failed 36.6% of MOTs (1,138 tests), 6.5 points below the 43.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 35.1% to 36.6%.
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 36.0% at the same age of 17 years (1,071 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at 17 years, is handbrake too weak, at 6.1 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.7).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 years | 35.1% | 1,203 | 40.3% | −5.2 pts |
| 2023 | 15 years | 36.5% | 1,160 | 41.6% | −5.1 pts |
| 2024 | 16 years | 32.0% | 1,196 | 42.6% | −10.5 pts |
| 2025 | 17 years | 36.6% | 1,138 | 43.1% | −6.5 pts |
Most common faults at 17 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,142). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Handbrake too weak | 6.1 | 2.7 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 4.6 | 5.8 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 3.3 | 1.9 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 3.2 | 2.8 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 2.5 | 0.7 |
| Rear fog lamp: not working Wear | 2.5 | 0.9 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 2.2 | 1.9 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 2.2 | 2.4 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,142). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 19.7 | 10.5 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 13.0 | 11.3 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 10.9 | 2.5 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 10.0 | 3.4 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 9.3 | 11.7 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 8.8 | 17.9 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 6.8 | 3.6 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 5.9 | 9.6 |
| Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 5.8 | 0.9 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 5.0 | 5.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,142). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 17 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,142). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 100.0% | 36.4% | 4,128 | 43.2% | 135,820 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2008 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2008 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2008
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Vito (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 41.8% | 3,948 | 43.1% |
More on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2008 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.