Used car guide

2016 Fiat Doblo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Fiat Doblos, from 3,357 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,357MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
9,600typical miles a year
4.4×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Fiat Doblos than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Coil springs4.4× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    17.9% All 2016 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 2.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    11% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine oil leaks2.6× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    7.4% All 2016 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Windscreen2.7× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    6.5% All 2016 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2016 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.

  • Exhaust system3× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    6% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2016 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.

Better than most

Brake pads: 4.4% here, against 10.2% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Fiat Doblo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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.

  • Tyres
    33% 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
    20% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% 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.

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%
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%
2004621Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Fiat Doblos registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score