2002 Fiat Doblo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Fiat Doblo passed 66.5% of its 1,924 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 3.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.8%) and suspension (18.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 278 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 400 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 273 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 239 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.1% | 175 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.6% | 147 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 278 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 212 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 185 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 169 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 119 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 113 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.1% | 637 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 590 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.9% | 518 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 25.9% | 499 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.6% | 454 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 358 |
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 | 109 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 290 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 549 | 35.0% |
| 120-150k | 472 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 495 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,821 | 33.6% |
| Petrol | 103 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 629 | 34.5% |
| 2022 | 484 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 360 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 255 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 196 | 33.2% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Doblo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (14.2% 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.
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 2002 Fiat Doblos pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 1,924 2002 Fiat Doblo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Fiat Doblo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (18.4%).
Does the 2002 Doblo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.5% in the 30-60k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,924 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.