Van
Ford Transit
75.6%
pass rate across 1,107,503 tests
69.2% first-time pass rate
Ford Transit vs Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The two vans compared on 1,189,328 real MOT tests: pass rates, first-time passes, the failures each is known for, repair costs and how both have moved year by year.
80.3%
pass rate across 81,825 tests
76.6% first-time pass rate
The short answer
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has the stronger MOT record
Across 1,189,328 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has the stronger first-time record: 76.6% against 69.2%, a 7.4-point gap. On all MOTs the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is ahead at 80.3% versus 75.6%. Even after adjusting for the age and mileage of the cars tested, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is +1.1 points against its expected rate, the Ford Transit −4.8. A typical repair bill is different: £52–£145 for the Ford Transit and £42–£105 for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; at their pass rates that is roughly £1,268–£3,534 versus £822–£2,075 per 100 tests. The costliest common failure on the Ford Transit is Engine oil leaking excessively at 11.2% of tests, up to £700 to fix. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sample is smaller — 81,825 tests — so treat its figures as indicative.
- First-time pass: 69.2% vs 76.6%.
- All MOTs: 75.6% vs 80.3%.
- Like-for-like: −4.8 vs +1.1 points.
- Typical repair bill: £52–£145 vs £42–£105.
- At 90,000–120,000 miles: 74.7% vs 78.5%.
| Measure | Transit | Sprinter |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests on record | 1,107,503 | 81,825 |
| Pass rate, all MOTs | 75.6% | 80.3% stronger figure |
| First-time pass rate | 69.2% | 76.6% stronger figure |
| Against the UK average | −5.4 pts | −0.7 pts stronger figure |
| Like-for-like, age and mileage adjusted | −4.8 pts | +1.1 pts stronger figure |
| Average mileage at test | 103,972 mi | 113,883 mi |
| Model years on record | 2000–2024 (25) | 2000–2024 (25) |
| Best model year | 2024 · 96.9% | 2023 · 97.9% |
| Worst model year | 2010 · 68.6% | 2002 · 72.7% |
| Typical repair bill | £52–£145 | £42–£105 stronger figure |
| Expected repair spend per 100 tests | £1,268–£3,534 | £822–£2,075 stronger figure |
| Main fuel | Diesel 100% | Diesel 100% |
| Variants recorded | 20 | 15 |
A ✓ marks the stronger figure in each row. It is a comparison between the two cars, not a judgement against the national average.
What goes wrong most often
The most common priced failures on each model, as a share of all its tests. Repair costs are estimates from UK parts data, not quotes.
Transit
- Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded 24.5% £80–£180
- Suspension pin or bush excessively worn 21.3% £40–£150
- Engine oil leaking excessively 11.2% £200–£700
- Windscreen damaged 8.1% £80–£200
Sprinter
- Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded 17.2% £80–£180
- Ball joint excessively worn 10.5% £18–£45
- Play in steering rack inner joint 9.1% £120–£300
- Windscreen damaged 5.5% £80–£200
Year by year
The newest 8 years with published results. A model's headline rate hides a wide spread between its best and worst years.
| Model year | Transit | Sprinter |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 80.7% · 158,867 tests | 87.6% · 4,381 tests |
| 2018 | 83.2% · 66,966 tests | 88.6% · 4,003 tests |
| 2019 | 84.4% · 9,738 tests | 89.1% · 3,783 tests |
| 2020 | 86.2% · 5,111 tests | 89.6% · 3,336 tests |
| 2021 | 87.6% · 4,175 tests | 87.7% · 1,927 tests |
| 2022 | 90.9% · 2,507 tests | 93.5% · 1,206 tests |
| 2023 | 93.1% · 1,054 tests | 97.9% · 423 tests |
| 2024 | 96.9% · 228 tests | 97.0% · 269 tests |
Does the pass rate hold at higher mileage?
Pass rate by the mileage recorded at test, pooled across every published year. A car that stays strong past 90,000 miles is doing something right.
| Mileage | Transit | Sprinter |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30,000 mi | 89.3% · 23,622 tests | 90.8% · 7,054 tests |
| 30,000–60,000 mi | 82.9% · 116,590 tests | 86.2% · 11,531 tests |
| 60,000–90,000 mi | 78.2% · 226,331 tests | 82.6% · 11,682 tests |
| 90,000–120,000 mi | 74.7% · 261,434 tests | 78.5% · 11,467 tests |
| 120k+ | 72.5% · 471,531 tests | 76.4% · 37,845 tests |
What to check before you buy
Ford Transit
- Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded — 24.5% of tests, £80–£180 to put right.
- Suspension pin or bush excessively worn — 21.3% of tests, £40–£150 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2010 at 68.6%; check that generation's MOT history closely.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded — 17.2% of tests, £80–£180 to put right.
- Ball joint excessively worn — 10.5% of tests, £18–£45 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2002 at 72.7%; check that generation's MOT history closely.
Both columns cover every published year for the model. Pass rates are test-weighted, so a model with more recent tests is not dragged down by its oldest ones. Repair figures are estimates from UK parts data; a garage quote is the only number that matters for a specific car. The same car can be tested in more than one year, so these are test outcomes, not a count of individual vehicles.
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