Used car guide · 2001–2022

Fiat Doblo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Fiat Doblo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 138,026 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

138,026MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
13,198on the UK register
2013best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

What usually goes wrong with a Fiat Doblo?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Fiat Doblo in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Fiat Doblo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Exhaust system

    up to 13.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Coil springs

    up to 15.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Wipers

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 4.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Diesel

  • Windscreen

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

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

  • Coil springs

    up to 27.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    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.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 11.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Engine warning light

    up to 10.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    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.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Headlights

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Fiat Doblo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2013 Fiat Doblo did best (73% passed first time, 6 points above all 2013 cars) and the 2021 did worst (72%, 15 points below all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202277%89% -12718
202172%87% -153,860
202074%87% -133,577
201972%85% -135,140
201872%83% -115,997
201767%80% -137,477
201665%77% -1210,266
201564%74% -1014,440
201462%70% -817,564
201373%67% +620,466
201257%64% -76,426
201156%62% -65,990
201058%60% -25,656
200960%59% +14,786
200857%57% +06,175
200754%57% -36,810
200654%56% -24,966
200549%57% -83,261
200449%57% -82,414
200348%57% -91,336
200249%58% -9581
200149%60% -11120 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Fiat Doblo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the windscreen? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 24.5× as often on the Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Doblo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score