Fiat Ducato 2001: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2001 Fiat Ducato include Electrical equipment — Horn (~7.0× peers) and Component mounting prescribed areas (front) (~6.6× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (731 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 731 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Electrical equipment — Horn
This failure pattern appears about 7.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 112 failed first-attempt tests; 15.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 112 failures · ×7.0 vs similar cars · 15.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Component mounting prescribed areas (front)
This failure pattern appears about 6.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 104 failed first-attempt tests; 14.2% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 104 failures · ×6.6 vs similar cars · 14.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Outline marker lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Outline marker lamps > Outline marker lamp
|
Rear | 33 | ×36.2 | 4.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 40 | ×8.9 | 5.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Integral vehicle structure condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition
|
Front | 58 | ×7.2 | 7.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Electrical equipment — Horn
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn
|
Any | 112 | ×7.0 | 15.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Component mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 104 | ×6.6 | 14.2% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 6 |
Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo
|
Any | 22 | ×6.3 | 3.0% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
|
Front | 63 | ×6.3 | 8.6% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Front | 45 | ×3.2 | 6.2% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 9 |
Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Any | 23 | ×3.0 | 3.1% | Possible elevated fault |
| 10 |
Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Front | 38 | ×2.9 | 5.2% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wheel bearings
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Any | 20 | ×26.9 | 2.7% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Rear | 142 | ×10.8 | 19.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 3 |
Pipes and hoses (front)
Steering > Power steering > Pipes and hoses
|
Front | 21 | ×10.2 | 2.9% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 39 | ×8.8 | 5.3% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Front | 145 | ×8.8 | 19.8% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Pipes and hoses
Steering > Power steering > Pipes and hoses
|
Any | 52 | ×7.7 | 7.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
|
Front | 40 | ×6.5 | 5.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Component mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 49 | ×5.9 | 6.7% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.