2001 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passed 74.1% of its 4,107 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2001 Sprinter comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests against 14.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 414 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 771 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 580 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 452 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 338 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 249 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 125 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 414 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 313 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 229 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 222 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 216 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 209 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.8% | 1,634 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.2% | 1,406 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 818 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 786 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 759 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.1% | 622 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 56 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 357 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 609 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 631 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 640 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,796 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 912 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 898 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 827 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 765 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 705 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Sprinter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (11.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 4,107 2001 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 2001 Sprinter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,107 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.