2004 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 325 MOT tests, the 2004 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome recorded a 79.7% pass rate. That is 7.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and brakes (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rbt (sp) and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Ducato-Motorhome fails 16.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 18 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 18 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 4 | Wipers | 18 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.7% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 50 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.1% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.9% | 45 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 40 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.5% | 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 | 43 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 193 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 16.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 63 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 73 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 61 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 62 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ducato-Motorhome
On a 2004 Ducato-Motorhome, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (9.8% 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.
- Visibility (7.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2004 Fiat Ducato-Motorhomes pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 325 2004 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Ducato-Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2004 Ducato-Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.