2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,596 MOT tests, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter recorded a 78.9% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and brakes (11.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 443 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 9.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 791 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 755 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 348 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 282 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 281 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 232 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 443 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 274 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 274 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 210 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 191 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 183 |
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 | 30.7% | 2,027 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.4% | 1,474 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.9% | 1,116 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 963 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.8% | 912 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 758 |
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 | 399 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 871 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 605 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 788 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 880 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,047 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,278 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 1,365 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 1,307 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,351 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 1,295 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Sprinter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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 (5.3% 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 6,596 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.5%).
Does the 2010 Sprinter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,596 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.