2006 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
27,961 MOT tests on the 2006 Fiat Ducato are in this dataset, and 78.6% of them passed. That is 8.2 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 9.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,731 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.1% versus 15.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 3,501 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 2,521 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 1,960 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 1,896 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,471 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 566 |
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 | 1,731 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,553 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,270 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,028 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 973 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 898 |
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 | 20.7% | 5,780 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 4,603 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 3,823 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.1% | 3,672 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 3,642 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 2,258 |
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 | 4,599 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 14,597 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,634 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,836 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,160 | 33.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,111 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,117 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 5,704 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 5,579 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 5,356 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 5,205 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 (7.0% 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 2006 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 27,961 2006 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by brakes (9.0%).
Does the 2006 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,961 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.