2003 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 270 MOT tests, the 2003 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome recorded an 80.7% pass rate. That is 8.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 12 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.0% in 2021 to 14.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 18 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 12 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 11 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
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 | 20.4% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 54 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 41 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 28 |
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 | 140 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 90 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 55 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 52 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 48 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Ducato-Motorhome
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2003 Fiat Ducato-Motorhomes pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 270 2003 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2003 Ducato-Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 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.