1991 Fiat Ducato — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,238 MOT tests analysed for the 1991 Fiat Ducato, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.0% was below the average for vans of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 36.3% in the 150k+ group versus 28.4% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.9% | 580 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 360 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 330 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.2% | 229 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 190 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 101 |
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 | 302 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 298 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 227 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 212 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 210 |
| 6 | Joints | 182 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.6% | 887 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.2% | 854 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.7% | 664 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 516 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 388 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.8% | 354 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 317 | 28.4% |
| 60-90k | 839 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 615 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 224 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 215 | 36.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,693 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 545 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 428 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 513 | 33.7% |
| 2023 | 459 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 440 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 398 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Ducato
Before buying a 1991 Fiat Ducato, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 25.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (25.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1991 Fiat Ducatos pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 2,238 1991 Fiat Ducato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Fiat Ducato?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.9% of tests, followed by brakes (16.1%).
Does the 1991 Ducato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 30-60k band to 36.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,238 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.