Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 18,963 vehicles, the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter are: Oil leak, but not excessive (54.3% of vehicles), Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (42.3% of vehicles), Parking brake efficiency below requirements (41.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz Sprinter (2013)

18,963 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.6% first-time pass rate

2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter

CarHunch analysed 18,963 real MOT records for the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has a first-time pass rate of 77.6%, which sits slightly below the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that 39.1% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—nearly double the typical rate. This suggests structural or safety issues are more common than you'd expect from a premium commercial vehicle.

At 148,440 miles average, these Sprinters are running high mileage for their age, yet they're generating 2.63 failures and 18.3 advisories per test on average, indicating wear accumulates faster than the numbers alone suggest. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on braking systems, suspension, and structural integrity, since the dangerous defect history points to components that affect safety rather than mere wear items.

The 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter has a decent first-time pass rate (77.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

77.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.63

Over 10.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

139k

Middle half: 101k–185k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 18,963 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 18,963 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 54.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Brake wear 41.6%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 33.1%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 25.9%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 18,963 Mercedes Benz Sprinter cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter

Based on MOT data from 18,963 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 403,725 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 75.7%

305,648

Silver 6%

24,107

Blue 5%

20,257

Yellow 3.7%

14,808

Red 2.8%

11,179

Green 2.2%

8,813

Grey 2%

8,176

Black 1.5%

6,117

Brown 0.5%

2,069

Orange 0.3%

1,114

Multi-colour 0.2%

956

Cream 0.1%

481

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

139,070

typical

100,793

low mileage

184,853

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicles fall between 100,793 and 184,853 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 100,793 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 100,793–184,853 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinters sit.

⚠ Over 249,551 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 59% of 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinters are still active.

10,514 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 59% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.63

Avg failures per vehicle

18.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Sprinter: All Sprinter years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing