2005 Fiat Doblo: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Fiat Doblo?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Fiat Doblo than on all cars registered in 2005.

• Headlights1.6× usual
  Fiat Doblo

  21.7% All 2005 cars

  13.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 5% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

• Exhaust system1.7× usual
  Fiat Doblo

  16.1% All 2005 cars

  9.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 2.6% of all 2005 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 indicators2.8× usual
  Fiat Doblo

  9.9% All 2005 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.6% of all 2005 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.

• Shock absorbers1.9× usual
  Fiat Doblo

  12.7% All 2005 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.7% of all 2005 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.

• Windscreen2.3× usual
  Fiat Doblo

  9% All 2005 cars

  4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2005 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.

Common 2005 Fiat Doblo MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Fiat Doblo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• 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.

• Suspension
  49% 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
  37% 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
  36% 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
  21% 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
  20% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 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 headlights? (Flagged at MOT 1.6× as often on the 2005 Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2005 Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2005 Fiat Doblo as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?