2021 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Fiat Ducato passed 94.7% of its 2,329 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (13.8% fail rate), the 2021 Ducato comes out 8.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.2%) and visibility (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 130 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 60-90k — 5.4× the risk.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.4% in 2023 to 5.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 121 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.5% | 11 |
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 | 130 |
| 2 | Wipers | 87 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 4 | Washers | 15 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 13 |
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 | 4.0% | 93 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 61 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 49 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 37 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.2% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 22 |
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 | 2,107 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 153 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 1,080 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 1,180 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ducato
On a 2021 Ducato, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.4% 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 (1.2% 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 2021 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
94.7% of the 2,329 2021 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,329 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.