Used car guide

2004 Fiat Doblo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Fiat Doblos, from 621 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

621MOT tests in 2025
49%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for rust around suspension or steering mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Fiat Doblos than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.6× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    16.9% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.4%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    18.5% All 2004 cars
    9.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 2.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Individual direction indicators3.2× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    10.8% All 2004 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Windscreen2.8× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    11.3% All 2004 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Shock absorbers2× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    14% All 2004 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Coil springs: 5% here, against 10.9% of all 2004 cars. Brake pads: 3.4% here, against 7.2% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Fiat Doblo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    50% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    38% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    24% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    22% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Fiat Doblo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022694Tyres 27%
20211,890Tyres 27%
20201,204Tyres 28%
20191,683Tyres 29%
20181,986Tyres 29%
20172,447Tyres 32%
20163,357Suspension 36%
20154,572Suspension 37%
20145,396Suspension 41%
20136,067Suspension 32%
20121,924Suspension 48%
20111,736Suspension 49%
20101,639Suspension 44%
20091,440Tyres 38%
20081,751Suspension 41%
20071,887Suspension 49%
20061,385Suspension 48%
2005892Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Fiat Doblos registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score