Common problems by part
Fiat Ducato steering problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 20,217 MOT tests · Updated
At 17 years, 0.9 in 100 MOT tests of the Fiat Ducato failed on steering, against 3.6 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 20,217 MOT tests) [1].
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- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 184 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 272,846 MOT tests
- MOT tests at 17 years: 20,217 for the Fiat Ducato
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
0.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 3.6 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 17 (all test years). The Fiat Ducato fails less often here.
Why it matters
A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.
What to check
With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.
The Fiat Ducato is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.
Fiat Ducato steering fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6,973 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 4 | 8,054 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 5 | 8,163 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 6 | 9,132 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 7 | 9,846 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| 8 | 10,306 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 9 | 10,558 | 0.7 | 1.8 |
| 10 | 10,415 | 0.7 | 2.1 |
| 11 | 10,813 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| 12 | 11,825 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
| 13 | 13,245 | 0.4 | 2.9 |
| 14 | 15,828 | 0.5 | 3.2 |
| 15 | 18,042 | 0.6 | 3.3 |
| 16 | 19,127 | 0.9 | 3.4 |
| 17 | 20,217 | 0.9 | 3.6 |
| 18 | 19,043 | 1.0 | 3.9 |
| 19* | 16,862 | 1.1 | 4.1 |
| 20* | 14,604 | 1.1 | 4.2 |
| 21* | 11,749 | 1.2 | 4.2 |
| 22* | 9,279 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| 23* | 7,296 | 1.6 | 3.9 |
| 24* | 6,226 | 1.4 | 3.7 |
| 25* | 5,243 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
All first-use years of the Fiat Ducato pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.
What fails in the steering at 17 years
Advisories (not fails)
- Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded: 2.3 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Power steering pipe or hose slightly corroded MOT advisory
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s): 1.3 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 3.4. Play in steering rack inner joint(s) MOT advisory
Buying a Fiat Ducato? Check that exact car before the viewing.
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
By engine and fuel
- 2.3 diesel: 0.6 per 100 at 17 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,514 MOT tests)
- 2.8 diesel: 0.6 per 100 at 17 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,248 MOT tests)
How to check on a test drive
With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded.
Check one Fiat Ducato, not the average
The figures here describe Fiat Ducato cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Fiat Ducato's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Fiat Ducato problems
Steering on rival models
- Peugeot Boxer steering problems: 1.2 per 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 0.9 for the Fiat Ducato (10,028 MOT tests)
- Renault Master steering problems: 5.4 per 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 0.9 for the Fiat Ducato (4,646 MOT tests)
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter steering problems: 4.2 per 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 0.9 for the Fiat Ducato (4,142 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Fiat Ducato have more steering problems than other cars?
0.2 to 0.3 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 17 years (all test years), from 20,217 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 4 of the 23 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).
How common are Fiat Ducato steering problems?
0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 17 years failed on steering, against 3.6 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 20,217 MOT tests).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 272,846 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare