1987 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 846 MOT tests, the 1987 Fiat Ducato recorded a 69.5% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 28.3% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 26.0% of all tests — 9.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 147 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Ducato fails 29.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 27.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.7% in 2021 to 26.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 26.0% | 220 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 136 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 135 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.8% | 91 |
| 5 | Suspension | 10.3% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 147 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 118 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 105 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 94 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 79 |
| 6 | Joints | 62 |
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 | 36.2% | 306 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.9% | 295 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 226 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 158 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 149 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.1% | 145 |
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 | 158 | 29.1% |
| 60-90k | 370 | 30.5% |
| 90-120k | 223 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 27.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 495 | 31.3% |
| Diesel | 351 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 211 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 201 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 168 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 139 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 127 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Ducato
On a 1987 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 26.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (26.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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 (16.0% 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 1987 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 846 1987 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 26.0% of tests, followed by brakes (16.1%).
Does the 1987 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.1% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 846 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.