2001 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,862 MOT tests, the 2001 Fiat Ducato recorded a 72.8% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.8% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,214 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.2% versus 22.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 2,108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 1,421 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 1,141 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 1,074 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 894 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 279 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,214 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 871 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 711 |
| 4 | Wipers | 641 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 613 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 590 |
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 | 37.8% | 4,481 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.0% | 3,793 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 2,419 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 1,613 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.6% | 1,490 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.8% | 928 |
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 | 805 | 22.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,700 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,643 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,105 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 370 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 233 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,723 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 139 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,542 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 2,434 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 2,360 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 2,263 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 2,263 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Ducato
On a 2001 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
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 2001 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 11,862 2001 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 2001 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,862 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.