2004 Auto-Trail Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Auto-Trail Ducato passed 73.6% of its 254 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and brakes (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 25 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 33 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 8 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Wipers | 18 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 11 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 9 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
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 | 20.1% | 51 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 39 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.1% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 202 | 27.2% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 50 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 50 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 47 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 50 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 (7.5% 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
How many 2004 Auto-Trail Ducatos pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 254 2004 Auto-Trail Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Auto-Trail Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2004 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.2% in the 30-60k band to 22.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 254 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.