2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passed 79.2% of its 6,439 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 5.9pp 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 (12.7%) and brakes (11.7%) 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 headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 410 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 820 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 750 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 303 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 293 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 241 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 188 |
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) | 410 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 274 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 241 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 237 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 184 |
| 6 | Wipers | 177 |
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 | 29.9% | 1,927 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.5% | 1,386 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.2% | 1,041 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.0% | 837 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 790 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 739 |
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 | 440 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 759 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 619 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 829 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,063 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,726 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,293 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 1,255 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 1,223 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 1,349 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 1,319 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Sprinter
On a 2011 Sprinter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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 (4.7% 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 6,439 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 2011 Sprinter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,439 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.