2013 Fiat Doblo — MOT failures & pass rate
43,734 MOT tests on the 2013 Fiat Doblo are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 6.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.8%) and lighting & signalling (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 2,156 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 28.0% in the 150k+ band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
The diesel cars hold up better: 17.4% fail against 21.9% for petrol, a 4.5-point gap across 43,734 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.8% | 4,741 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 3,969 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 1,776 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 1,614 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.3% | 1,455 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 1,180 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,156 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,353 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 987 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 987 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 875 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 872 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.8% | 8,235 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 7,790 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 4,937 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 3,782 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 3,282 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 2,467 |
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 | 3,165 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 15,854 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,262 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,281 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,417 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,666 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,264 | 17.4% |
| Petrol | 1,470 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,627 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 9,260 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 9,100 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 8,407 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 7,340 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Doblo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 Fiat Doblos pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 43,734 2013 Fiat Doblo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Fiat Doblo?
Suspension, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.1%).
Does the 2013 Doblo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,734 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.