2012 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Fiat Ducato passed 87.4% of its 14,552 recorded MOT tests. That is 13.0 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and outline marker lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 609 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 26.8% in the 150k+ band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 1,259 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 580 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 393 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 391 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 388 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.6% | 225 |
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 | 609 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 299 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 266 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 255 |
| 5 | Wipers | 254 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 243 |
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 | 11.9% | 1,727 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 1,291 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 1,219 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 1,185 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 524 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.6% | 383 |
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 | 6,076 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,459 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,155 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 645 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 504 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 697 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,966 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 2,960 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 2,916 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 2,842 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 2,868 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ducato
On a 2012 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2012 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 14,552 2012 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2012 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,552 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.