2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOT pass rate: 71.6% (3,599 tests)
Is the 2012 Sprinter getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 74.1% +1.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 69.1% -1.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 71.7% +1.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Sprinter
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,172 | 38.0% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 637 | 20.7% |
| 3 | Suspension | 337 | 10.9% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 182 | 5.9% |
| 5 | Steering | 173 | 5.6% |
| 6 | Visibility | 169 | 5.5% |
All Sprinter years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,858 | 70.0% | +3.3 pts | 134,796 |
| 2002 | 2,472 | 65.7% | -0.1 pts | 129,863 |
| 2003 | 2,573 | 66.6% | +1.5 pts | 132,374 |
| 2004 | 2,853 | 65.9% | +1.5 pts | 129,449 |
| 2005 | 2,693 | 67.7% | +3.2 pts | 125,102 |
| 2006 | 2,599 | 69.0% | +4.6 pts | 134,992 |
| 2007 | 3,057 | 69.6% | +4.5 pts | 141,611 |
| 2008 | 3,372 | 70.4% | +5.3 pts | 137,012 |
| 2009 | 2,493 | 73.2% | +6.9 pts | 133,070 |
| 2010 | 3,183 | 72.9% | +5.6 pts | 139,907 |
| 2011 | 3,139 | 73.6% | +4.4 pts | 136,191 |
| 2012 (this page) | 3,599 | 71.6% | +0.4 pts | 128,580 |
| 2013 | 3,643 | 76.5% | +3.2 pts | 128,020 |
| 2014 | 4,286 | 75.9% | +0.1 pts | 122,862 |
| 2015 | 4,794 | 80.2% | +1.6 pts | 117,939 |
| 2016 | 3,719 | 80.4% | -0.8 pts | 97,870 |
| 2017 | 3,887 | 85.9% | +2.0 pts | 92,050 |
| 2018 | 3,644 | 87.6% | +1.3 pts | 81,665 |
| 2019 | 3,410 | 88.2% | -0.2 pts | 76,728 |
| 2020 | 2,715 | 89.1% | -0.8 pts | 51,370 |
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 71.6% of their MOT tests (3,599 tests, 2023–2025), +0.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 128,580 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Sprinter?
The median tested example shows 128,580 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.