Used car guide

2021 Fiat Doblo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Fiat Doblos, from 1,890 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,890MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
13,300typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Fiat Doblos than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Shock absorbers4.6× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    7.8% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

  • Engine warning light10.2× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    4.1% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 0.4% of all 2021 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.

  • Windscreen3× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    5.1% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2021 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.

  • Pedal31× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    3.1% All 2021 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

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

  • Engine oil leaks8.8× usual
    Fiat Doblo
    3.5% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Fiat Doblo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    16% 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
    15% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    4% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Fiat Doblo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022694Tyres 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%
2004621Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Fiat Doblos registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score