MOT fail rates by first-use year
2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used in 2020 did at their MOTs from 2023 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 3,136 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 5 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 5 years old, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used in 2020 failed 14.6% of MOTs (1,051 tests), about the same as the 15.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2023 to 2025, as these cars went from 3 to 5 years old, the fail rate moved from 15.1% to 14.6%.
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars first used a year earlier, in 2019, failed 16.2% at the same age of 5 years (1,220 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at 5 years, is handbrake too weak, at 2.0 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.1).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 years | 15.1% | 1,015 | 12.1% | +3.0 pts |
| 2024 | 4 years | 15.2% | 1,070 | 13.4% | +1.9 pts |
| 2025 | 5 years | 14.6% | 1,051 | 15.3% | −0.7 pts |
Most common faults at 5 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs at 5 years: cars first used 2017 to 2020, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,697). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Handbrake too weak | 2.0 | 0.1 |
| Headlight aimed too high Wear | 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 0.6 | 0.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,697). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 5.5 | 13.5 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 5.2 | 6.4 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 3.7 | 1.6 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 2.6 | 8.8 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 2.2 | 0.2 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 2.0 | 2.2 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 1.8 | 0.6 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 1.5 | 8.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,697). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 5 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs at 5 years: cars first used 2017 to 2020, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,697). 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% | 15.0% | 4,690 | 17.5% | 72,810 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2020 car
- Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- 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 2020
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Vito (2020) | 5 years in 2025 | 24.7% | 4,405 | 15.3% |
More on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2020 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.