2018 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Ducato passed 91.4% of its 10,028 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (16.2% fail rate), the 2018 Ducato comes out 7.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.1% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 527 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.0% versus 5.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 710 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.8% | 285 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 278 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 192 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.4% | 135 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 86 |
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 | 527 |
| 2 | Wipers | 251 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 144 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 109 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 101 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 71 |
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 | 8.3% | 834 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 474 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 435 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 327 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 308 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.0% | 302 |
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 | 5,612 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,373 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 612 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 503 | 9.9% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 10.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,361 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,889 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 2,020 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 1,980 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 2,088 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 2,051 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Ducato
On a 2018 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.8% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% 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 2018 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 10,028 2018 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.8%).
Does the 2018 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,028 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.