MOT cost .
Fiat Doblo
MOT 2023
Wikimedia

Fiat

Doblo

58,164 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Doblos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 4.4 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

71.4%

Pass-after-fix

4.6%

Fail

23.3%

Avg miles

83,963

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

Doblo: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass

Across 58,164 MOT tests, the Doblo returns 71.4% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A broken or weak spring and a number-plate lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 83,963, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    3,483 occurrences · 6.0% of tests

  2. 02

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    3,301 occurrences · 5.7% of tests

  3. 03

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    1,960 occurrences · 3.4% of tests

  4. 04

    Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

    1,707 occurrences · 2.9% of tests

  5. 05

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    1,658 occurrences · 2.9% of tests

  6. 06

    A tyre cords visible or damaged

    1,319 occurrences · 2.3% of tests

  7. 07

    The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

    1,100 occurrences · 1.9% of tests

  8. 08

    Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

    1,076 occurrences · 1.8% of tests

  9. 09

    A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

    942 occurrences · 1.6% of tests

  10. 10

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    869 occurrences · 1.5% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures

£158–£450

If every one of this Doblo's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Item 03 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Owner reports · Honest John

What owners actually report.

Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.

What's good

The 1.4 16v petrol engine is the perfect range starter with a punchy 95bhp, and like its diesel siblings it complies with Euro 5 emissions standards. Whatever the engine, all models come with Start&Stop and also feature a gearshift indicator to tell you when it's the most fuel-efficient moment to change gear.

Where it falls short

Eight versions of the Doblo featuring seating for up to seven will be available when it goes on sale this month, with prices ranging from £12,295 to £17,145 (OTR). As well as a sophisticated new appearance, all incorporate innovative bi-link rear suspension for a high level of comfort. The longest wheelbase in the segment doesn't just mean more room for passengers but more space for their luggage too, with a roomy 790-litre boot that can be expanded to a class-topping 3200 litres.

Buying or keeping a Doblo?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Doblo and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.