2011 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Fiat Ducato passed 86.0% of its 18,381 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 12.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests against 4.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, outline marker lamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 772 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.2% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 1,727 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 789 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 594 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 567 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 548 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 338 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 772 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 483 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 366 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 347 |
| 5 | Wipers | 336 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 296 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.0% | 2,202 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 1,856 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,723 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,700 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 699 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 654 |
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 | 6,462 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 7,935 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,438 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 782 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 679 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,065 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,732 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 3,766 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 3,639 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 3,622 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 3,622 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2011 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 18,381 2011 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by brakes (4.3%).
Does the 2011 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,381 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.