2019 Fiat Doblo — MOT failures & pass rate
8,433 MOT tests on the 2019 Fiat Doblo are in this dataset, and 81.9% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 15.2% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and suspension (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 398 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.2% versus 11.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.4% fail against 19.2% for diesel, a 6.8-point gap across 8,433 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 566 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.4% | 537 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 407 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 391 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 364 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 296 |
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 | 398 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 363 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 318 |
| 4 | Washers | 174 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 153 |
| 6 | Wipers | 131 |
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 | 21.3% | 1,795 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 1,051 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.6% | 640 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 635 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 492 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 379 |
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 | 2,348 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,235 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,803 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 702 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 219 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 125 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,042 | 19.2% |
| Petrol | 1,391 | 12.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 2,072 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 2,092 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 2,101 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 2,049 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Doblo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2019 Fiat Doblos pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 8,433 2019 Fiat Doblo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Fiat Doblo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.4%).
Does the 2019 Doblo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,433 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.