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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter exhaust, emissions and leaks problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 5,613 MOT tests · Updated

At 9 years, 2.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 2.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,613 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 142 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 22 ages from 3 to 24 years, 91,862 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction, 1.5 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.4 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter exhaust, emissions and leaks fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 3,620 MOT tests34 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 0.7), 4,058 MOT tests5 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 1.0), 4,697 MOT tests56 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 4,980 MOT tests7 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 1.7), 5,371 MOT tests78 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 5,611 MOT tests9 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 2.4), 5,613 MOT tests910 years: 3.1 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 5,575 MOT tests11 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 5,105 MOT tests1112 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 4,740 MOT tests13 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 4,296 MOT tests1314 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 5.1), 4,265 MOT tests15 years: 4.8 per 100 (all cars 5.7), 4,249 MOT tests1516 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 6.2), 4,064 MOT tests17 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 4,142 MOT tests1718 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 6.8), 4,119 MOT tests19 years: 4.2 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 3,892 MOT tests1920 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 3,745 MOT tests21 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 7.1), 3,427 MOT tests2122 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 2,771 MOT tests23 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 6.9), 2,078 MOT tests2324 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 1,444 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
33,6201.00.5
44,0581.20.7
54,6971.81.0
64,9802.11.3
75,3712.91.7
85,6112.72.1
95,6132.52.4
105,5753.12.8
115,1053.43.2
124,7404.43.7
134,2965.14.3
144,2654.95.1
154,2494.85.7
164,0643.76.2
174,1424.56.5
184,1194.16.8
19*3,8924.27.0
20*3,7453.47.0
21*3,4273.77.1
22*2,7713.27.0
23*2,0783.46.9
24*1,4443.07.0

All first-use years of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 9 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Diagnose engine warning light cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.1 diesel: 3.0 per 100 at 9 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 4,497 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive.

Check one Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, not the average

The figures here describe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter problems

Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?

2.5 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 5,613 MOT tests).

How common are Mercedes-Benz Sprinter exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?

2.5 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 2.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,613 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mercedes-Benz Sprinter exhaust, emissions and leaks fail?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction (86 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 91,862 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare