2020 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
5,177 MOT tests on the 2020 Fiat Ducato are in this dataset, and 93.5% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2020 Ducato comes out 7.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests against 2.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 266 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Ducato fails 5.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 280 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 122 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 98 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.0% | 50 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 29 |
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 | 266 |
| 2 | Wipers | 109 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 62 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 53 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 34 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 33 |
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 | 5.1% | 265 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.2% | 218 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 117 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 115 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 94 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 92 |
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 | 3,327 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 584 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 369 | 7.9% |
| 90-120k | 320 | 9.7% |
| 120-150k | 248 | 7.7% |
| 150k+ | 328 | 7.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 335 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 348 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,385 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 1,507 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 1,602 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Ducato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Brakes (1.9% 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.
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 2020 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 5,177 2020 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2020 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,177 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.