2013 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
12,882 MOT tests on the 2013 Fiat Ducato are in this dataset, and 87.6% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 12.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests against 3.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 568 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.8% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.7% 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 | 9.1% | 1,176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 486 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 363 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 326 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 253 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.6% | 200 |
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 | 568 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 249 |
| 3 | Wipers | 236 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 225 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 216 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 200 |
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 | 11.7% | 1,501 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 1,158 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 1,071 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 835 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 519 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.4% | 305 |
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 | 5,862 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,397 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 827 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 568 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 461 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 749 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,625 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 2,637 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 2,558 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 2,515 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 2,547 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 (2.8% 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 2013 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 12,882 2013 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 2013 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,882 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.