2016 Fiat Doblo — MOT failures & pass rate
22,009 MOT tests on the 2016 Fiat Doblo are in this dataset, and 78.7% of them passed. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 19.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.5% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,549 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.7% in the 0-30k band and 26.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.4pp more often than petrol ones (21.7% vs 15.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.5% | 2,529 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 1,775 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,473 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 990 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 922 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 757 |
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 | 1,549 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,008 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 747 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 543 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 499 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 489 |
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 | 25.5% | 5,615 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.0% | 3,512 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 3,015 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 1,641 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 1,280 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 1,204 |
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 | 2,023 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 5,977 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,397 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,131 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,685 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 793 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,595 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 1,414 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,455 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 4,442 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 4,448 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 4,401 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 4,263 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Doblo
On a 2016 Doblo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.7% 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 2016 Fiat Doblos pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 22,009 2016 Fiat Doblo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat Doblo?
Suspension, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2016 Doblo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,009 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.