Auto-Trail Ducato MOT pass rate & common failures
838 MOT tests on the Auto-Trail Ducato (2001–2012) give it a 75.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the Ducato comes out 3.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.6%) and brakes (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 78 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 60-90k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ducato model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 64 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 176 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 254 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 214 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 47 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 41 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 93 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 56 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.1% | 18 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 11 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 78 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 52 |
| 3 | Wipers | 48 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 28 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 26 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.6% | 189 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 111 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 103 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.9% | 100 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.2% | 60 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 84 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 624 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 170 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 168 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 154 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 172 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a Auto-Trail Ducato
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Auto-Trail Ducato?
75.8% of the 838 Auto-Trail Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.2% fail rate, across model years 2001–2012.
What does the Auto-Trail Ducato most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, then brakes (11.1%).
How much does mileage affect Ducato MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.4% for 60-90k, a 6.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 838 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.