1989 Fiat Ducato 2.5L Diesel · F455 KGW

This Fiat Ducato’s most recent MOT test on 2025-01-11 passed without defects, but the preceding two tests—both in January 2025 and November 2023—were failures with no recorded issues logged. The pattern suggests repeated retesting rather than progressive mechanical failure, though the lack of specific advisory notes means critical components like suspension bushes, coil springs, or binding calipers could have been overlooked or deemed borderline. The final pass in January 2025 was only 19 months ago, which is standard for a vehicle of this age, but the rapid succession of failures in the same month warrants scrutiny of whether the tester’s focus was on minor technicalities or if the vehicle was moved between garages without consistent repairs. The recorded mileage of 94,943 miles over 37 years equates to approximately 2,566 miles annually, a figure unusually low for a commercial van of this vintage. The gap between the 2023-10-26 failure and the 2023-11-22 retest—just six days—implies either urgent rectification or a rushed inspection, but no further tests were recorded until January 2025. This suggests the vehicle may have been stored or used intermittently, which could accelerate wear on components like fuel lines, battery health, or suspension seals. The absence of mileage between tests also makes it impossible to gauge whether repairs were truly addressed or if the same issues recurred without progression. Given the lack of specific failure details, a buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the suspension system, particularly the rear axle and coil springs, as these are common failure points in older vans. The repeated failures without advisories hint at potential issues with brake binding or worn pads, so caliper freeplay and disc thickness should be checked. Structural integrity is another concern—look for corrosion at wheel arches, sills, and the subframe, as these areas are prone to rust in a vehicle this age. Finally, verify that all previous MOT failures were genuinely resolved, as the pattern of retests without recorded defects raises questions about transparency in the maintenance history.