Does the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter records 2.16 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.77 expected for a lcv of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.61, 95% interval −0.70 to −0.51). It ranks 471 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 919 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 919 | 0.79 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 739 | 0.63 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 221 | 0.19 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 159 | 0.14 |
| Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 140 | 0.12 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 116,788 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter gets a seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.9% of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 3,719 miles later (1,137 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,137 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1998 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1999 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2000 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2001 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2002 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2003 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2004 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2005 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2006 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2007 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2008 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2009 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2010 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2011 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2012 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2013 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2014 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2015 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2016 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2017 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2018 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2019 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2020 · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in Norway · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in Finland · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter steering failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz Sprinter visibility failures