Fiat Ducato common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Fiat Ducato at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 72,563 UK MOT tests of the Fiat Ducato in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is ball joint (ball joint has slight play): recorded on 12% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km), 124× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pipes and hoses (slightly corroded) (22×); wheel bearings (slight play) (11×); horn (not working) (8.2×). The most common reasons a Fiat Ducato fails its MOT are component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Fiat Ducato
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Fiat Ducato than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 12% | 0.1% | 124× | 386 |
| Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded | Advisory | 2002–2004 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.7% | 0.3% | 22× | 758 |
| Wheel bearings: has slight play | Advisory | 2000–2002 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 24% | 2.1% | 11× | 612 |
| Horn: not working | MOT fail | 1999–2001 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.6% | 0.8% | 8.2× | 1,387 |
| Integral vehicle structure condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced | Advisory | 2005–2007 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.3% | 1.1% | 5.7× | 811 |
| Headlamp aim: too high | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 4.9% | 0.8% | 6.1× | 408 |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | Advisory | 1998–2000 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 6.4% | 1.3% | 4.9× | 1,354 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | MOT fail | 2005–2007 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 9.2% | 1.8% | 5.1× | 811 |
Fiat Ducato by mileage (2007–2009 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 767 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (8.2%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 5,913 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (6.9%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4,225 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (7.2%) | — |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 1,346 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (10%) | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements (3%, 1.9×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 563 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (11%) | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements (5.3%, 2.5×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 425 | Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive (14%) | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements (11%, 4.1×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 331 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (15%) | Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (8.2%, 5.9×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 503 | Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive (19%) | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (8.3%, 3×) |
Fiat Ducato by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 370 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.8×) |
| 1994 | 387 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.5×) |
| 1995 | 431 | Wheel bearings: has slight play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.8×) |
| 1996 | 702 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (9.8×) |
| 1997 | 917 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (8.1×) |
| 1998 | 1,176 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (7.8×) |
| 1999 | 1,446 | Horn: not working at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (9.5×) |
| 2000 | 1,641 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (11×) |
| 2001 | 1,953 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (14×) |
| 2002 | 2,318 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (18×) |
| 2003 | 3,377 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (22×) |
| 2004 | 4,123 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (18×) |
| 2005 | 4,883 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (16×) |
| 2006 | 4,731 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (13×) |
| 2007 | 5,454 | Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (5.4×) |
| 2008 | 5,243 | Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (5.9×) |
| 2009 | 3,663 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.2×) |
| 2010 | 3,524 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.9×) |
| 2011 | 3,260 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.8×) |
| 2012 | 2,634 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (1.6×) |
| 2013 | 2,293 | Nothing stands out |
| 2014 | 2,421 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (1.8×) |
| 2015 | 2,784 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.3×) |
| 2016 | 2,804 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.4×) |
| 2017 | 2,087 | Headlamp aim: too high at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.5×) |
| 2018 | 1,823 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (41×) |
| 2019 | 2,062 | Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.2×) |
| 2020 | 1,801 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (124×) |
| 2021 | 694 | Ball joint: ball joint has slight play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (69×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Fiat Ducato?
In 72,563 UK MOT tests of the Fiat Ducato in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is ball joint (ball joint has slight play): recorded on 12% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km), 124× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pipes and hoses (slightly corroded) (22×); wheel bearings (slight play) (11×); horn (not working) (8.2×). The most common reasons a Fiat Ducato fails its MOT are component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements).
Why do Fiat Ducatos fail the MOT?
Across 72,563 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Fiat Ducato were component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength) (6.7% of tests); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (3.4% of tests); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements) (6.2% of tests).
At what mileage do Fiat Ducato problems start?
The clearest Fiat Ducato-specific issue, ball joint (ball joint has slight play), peaks against other cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) on 2019–2021 cars (12% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Fiat Ducato data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 72,563 tests of the Fiat Ducato. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.