1986 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Fiat Ducato passed 67.5% of its 505 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (28.3% fail rate), the 1986 Ducato comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.5% of tests against 17.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 72 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 33.7% in the 30-60k band and 22.6% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.2% in 2021 to 30.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 28.5% | 144 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 90 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 79 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.9% | 60 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.1% | 56 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 72 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 62 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 61 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 45 |
| 6 | Wipers | 40 |
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 | 30.9% | 156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.3% | 148 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.3% | 138 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 101 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 79 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 67 |
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 | 83 | 33.7% |
| 60-90k | 257 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 103 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 22.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 313 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 192 | 34.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 117 | 34.2% |
| 2022 | 113 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 99 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 88 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 88 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 28.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (28.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.6% 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 1986 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 505 1986 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.5% of tests, followed by brakes (17.8%).
Does the 1986 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.7% in the 30-60k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 505 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.