2021 Fiat Ducato 42 Maxi Power — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,411 MOT tests, the 2021 Fiat Ducato 42 Maxi Power recorded a 93.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 3.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and side repeaters — headlamp aim alone was recorded 106 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Ducato 42 Maxi Power fails 3.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 12.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 106 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 41 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 11 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 8 |
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 | 12.6% | 178 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 95 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 49 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.9% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 21 |
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 | 192 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 306 | 4.6% |
| 60-90k | 284 | 7.4% |
| 90-120k | 282 | 9.2% |
| 120-150k | 199 | 11.1% |
| 150k+ | 147 | 3.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 331 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 345 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 345 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 346 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ducato 42 Maxi Power
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.6% 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 (2.0% 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 2021 Fiat Ducato 42 Maxi Powers pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 1,411 2021 Fiat Ducato 42 Maxi Power MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat Ducato 42 Maxi Power?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (3.6%).
Does the 2021 Ducato 42 Maxi Power get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 3.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,411 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.