2021 Fiat Ducato 35 Sportivo Multijet II 2.3L Diesel · CP21 EBG

This Fiat Ducato’s roadworthiness record shows a concerning trend of repeated mechanical failures, with the most recent test on 26 May 2026—just two months prior—already revealing critical issues that required immediate rectification. The vehicle failed on 22 May 2026 at 60,074 miles, with a catalogue of defects including a compromised offside front seat belt webbing, dangerously thin front brake pads, a severely worn offside rear brake disc, an excessively degraded offside front suspension ball joint, and an inefficient parking brake. While the 26 May 2026 test passed without recorded defects, the rapid recurrence of faults—particularly in braking and suspension—suggests underlying neglect rather than isolated incidents. The 2025 and 2024 tests further expose a pattern: frayed seat belts, near-legal tyre treads, binding brakes, and leaking shock absorbers, indicating a vehicle that has not received consistent, professional maintenance. The mileage progression of 12,015 miles annually over five years is unusually high for a commercial van of this age, particularly given the frequent failures. Between the 2024 and 2025 tests, the vehicle accumulated 9,961 miles in just under a year, a rate that accelerates wear on high-stress components like brakes, suspension, and drivetrain. The absence of tests between 2023 and 2024—despite the vehicle likely being overdue—raises further concerns about whether critical issues were ignored or deferred. Such aggressive mileage, combined with the failure history, implies that the vehicle has been operated beyond its expected service intervals, increasing the risk of catastrophic failure. A prospective buyer should prioritise an immediate, thorough inspection of the braking system, particularly the rear discs and pads, which have repeatedly failed or been close to failure. The offside front suspension ball joint failure in May 2026 is a red flag for structural integrity, and the 2024 test’s note of oil misting on the rear shock absorbers suggests internal damage that could lead to a total suspension collapse. The parking brake’s inefficiency in May 2026 warrants verification of cable tension and drum condition, as this system is often overlooked until it fails entirely. Tyre condition should also be scrutinised, as the 2025 test’s near-legal treads indicate a history of delayed replacement. Finally, the seat belt webbing failures—both frayed and critically cut—demonstrate a lack of attention to safety-critical components, and any new webbing should be inspected for proper installation and tension.