Mercedes Benz Sprinter (2008)
2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter
CarHunch analysed 17,218 real MOT records for the 2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.1%, which sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%, and with 41% of vehicles in this cohort having suffered a dangerous defect at some point, this is a material reliability concern for any buyer. Sprinters are almost exclusively diesel (17,197 of 17,218 vehicles), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here—the poor pass rate is structural to the model.
At a median mileage of 147,945 miles for a 16-year-old van, these are well-used working vehicles, and the figures bear that out: the average Sprinter racks up nearly 4 failures and 25 advisories per test cycle. If you're considering one, have a pre-purchase inspection done by a Mercedes specialist, especially checking the engine bay and suspension, since advisory patterns point to wear accumulation rather than design flaws.
What to check before buying a 2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 41% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Mercedes Benz Sprinter
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (100%) | 17,197 | 72.1% | 3.98 |
| Petrol (0%) | 17 | 76% | 3.35 |
| LPG (0%) | 2 | 83.3% | 0.5 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 75% | 3 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles fall between 112,465 and 187,910 miles.
2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 4,585 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (32% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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70%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
-
56.7%
Oil leak, but not excessive
-
37.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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35.9%
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
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35.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
35%
Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
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32.1%
Parking brake efficiency below requirements
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29.3%
Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mercedes Benz Sprinter?
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