2003 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Fiat Ducato passed 75.7% of its 20,059 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 5.7pp 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 14.6% of all tests — 4.2 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 headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,716 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 2,935 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 2,099 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,581 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 1,420 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,164 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 396 |
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 | 1,716 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,444 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 947 |
| 4 | Wipers | 918 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 848 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 780 |
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 | 23.3% | 4,663 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.4% | 3,901 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 3,129 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 2,947 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.3% | 2,465 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.9% | 1,786 |
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 | 1,830 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 10,980 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,070 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,252 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 553 | 32.4% |
| 150k+ | 342 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,026 | 24.2% |
| Petrol | 33 | 36.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,194 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 4,075 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 4,055 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 3,892 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 3,843 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Ducato
On a 2003 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 (7.9% 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 2003 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 20,059 2003 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (10.5%).
Does the 2003 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,059 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.