2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,033 MOT tests, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter recorded an 81.5% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 24.6% of the time, so this is 6.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.6%) and lighting & signalling (9.5%) 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 headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 403 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.6% once past 150k — 2.2× 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 — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.6% | 818 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 667 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 290 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 252 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 162 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 152 |
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) | 403 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 336 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 251 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 194 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 138 |
| 6 | Washers | 136 |
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% | 2,101 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.9% | 1,329 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.4% | 1,151 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.5% | 876 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 633 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 522 |
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 | 502 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 613 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,006 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,134 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,086 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,688 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,239 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 1,354 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 1,330 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 1,600 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 1,510 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Sprinter
On a 2013 Sprinter, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.1% 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 7,033 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Brakes, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2013 Sprinter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,033 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.