How reliable is the Fiat Ducato?

[JHuwJ]

I keep seeing negative feedback on the Fiat Ducato but how reliable are they? We have a 2025 auto model.

I saw the results of a What Car survey yesterday where Fiat was in the 5 least reliable manufacturers.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

They do supply the most motorhome base vehicles and are cited as supplying the most reliable motorhome base vehicle .
Mike.

 

[Monty 2]

Hi, I have a 2023 Motorhome on a Ducato, done 11500 miles and never has an issue.
I have a 2025 Peugeot van for work and it’s been at the main dealers waiting for a part for the last 9 weeks.

I’m happy with the Fiat.

 

[Cidered]

2018 registered but 2016 build I think. Fiat Ducato base vehicle. No break downs. Only recalls and a broken coil spring-otherwise nearly eight years of trouble free driving. I often think a Mercedes might be better (probs too narrow tho) but really can’t fault reliability of Fiat.

 

[enark]

Very reliable and good camper support network.

Some MH dealers are also Fiat service agents, so one stop shop.

Best MH platform IMO

 

[Figaro]

The biggest reliability problem imv is the euro emmissions tech on modern diesels which have taken extremely reliable engines that needed little apart from regular oil and filter changes to some of the horror stories we hear about today.
The modern diesels are smoother, more powerful and economical than ever but they have lots of sensors and any one of which can put the engine in limp home mode and ruin your holiday.
Motorhomes seem to suffer more from this than other vehicles, maybe it's the periods of inactivity many motorhomes have that contributes to the problem ?

 

[Kayak Kid]

I have had a 2020 Ducato since new. No warranty issues in first 2 years and nothing since. No advisories on MOTs and done 2100 miles. Had two previous Ducatos ( 3.0 litre and 2.8JTD) and only had a broken linkage in gear stick on the 3 litre.

 

[Grianan]

2018 registered but 2016 build I think. Fiat Ducato base vehicle. No break downs. Only recalls and a broken coil spring-otherwise nearly eight years of trouble free driving. I often think a Mercedes might be better (probs too narrow tho) but really can’t fault reliability of Fiat.

2018 registered and build … also had broken coil spring. Also needed new shock absorber.
Only other issue is the airbag ECU which really should be a recall imho .

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[Just us on Tour]

I keep seeing negative feedback on the Fiat Ducato but how reliable are they? We have a 2025 auto model.

I saw the results of a What Car survey yesterday where Fiat was in the 5 least reliable manufacturers.

I have had two previous Fiats , one was a 2017 manual and the other a 2021 auto. I have had no issues at all with either. I currently have a new 2025 Fiat, but having only covered 600 miles it’s too early to say . So far so good

 

[ManTheVan]

Brilliant vehicle.

 

[The Saints]

Ours has been utterly reliable.

But then we only bought it in July..

Seriously, most vehicle related forums are full of horror stories. The overwhelming majority of owners don't bother to post "no problems with my vehicle this year, it's been great.."

As above, Fiat are by far the biggest supplier of base MH vehicles in Europe.

Ours is from 2022, a 160bh, 2.2 auto. Bought with 4000km on the clock, now with 15000km.

Just enjoy your holidays and think positive..

 

[PP Bear]

I love my 2006 2.8JTD and the only time it’s let me down was after I stupidly let a dealer work on it, who crossthreaded an engine mounting bolt, did a pisspoor job of drilling it out and inserting a coil, only to use a wrong bolt, which then sheared and the engine dropped enough that it contacted the drivers side drive shaft and split the rubber gaiter. Never again. I fitted a new top mount (£60, why the garage didn’t do this I don’t know).

This is why I do all my own serving, even on brand new vehicles and, as a result, have never had one breakdown.

Love the Ducato

 

[Roby2008]

On my second Fiat, had a 2013 150/Comformatic did 100,000 km with only normal service items, now have a 2023 140/9 speed, up to 32,000 km with only normal service items .........my next MH will most likely be a Fiat, they have proven themselves to be reliable.

Use it, look after it, enjoy it ..... Don't listen to the drama queens/kings/keyboard warriors ...... people feel they have to comment.

 

[captainPaul]

Very reliable, I've had 5 Fiat Ducatos MHs over 20 years and never had any issues with them, although they were all manual but great vans, currently in a Merc Sprinter MH which isn't any worse or any better,
i reckon sometimes those surveys can be taken with a large pinch of salt

 

[Hettie's Crew]

You’ll always hear the negative reports about any vehicle, very few go on line to report they’ve had no issues.
Our 2014 2.3 150bhp 6 speed manual had one issue with the throttle body covered under warranty in its early years and has been brilliant since. Just returning from a six week trip to Spain today and it remains a pleasure to drive.

 

[Ian_H]

I have a 2023 Ducato, not had any problems so far, but have got very concerned about the many reports on this forum of power steering issues due to water getting into non waterproof cable connections, and then months of waiting for parts. I have been underneath and covered the connections with dielectric grease, and fitted a central undertray, which Fiat appear not to fit (??)

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[enark]

I have a 2023 Ducato, not had any problems so far, but have got very concerned about the many reports on this forum of power steering issues due to water getting into non waterproof cable connections, and then months of waiting for parts. I have been underneath and covered the connections with dielectric grease, and fitted a central undertray, which Fiat appear not to fit (??)

Add extra earth bonding too, I put an extra bond to the gear box and also from the battery negative.

And had the 9 sp software update.

 

[ALI G]

I've had many fiat Ducatos, from 1985 never had any real problems with any of them till our latest 2022 series 8 model but there's always one and I've got it
.

 

[jerryz]

Fiat Ducato is excellent ,, its Fiats cars that are dire and drag Fit into a bad place on the reliability index ,,,,,

 

[the1andonly]

2017 Manual euro 6 no problems (other than the non recall of airbag ecu) low milage but has a 30 mile trip each month (mostly).

 

[pagey]

Had my 2017 manual for 8 years no problems at all with the fiat part

 

[Dall]

It's good to read a positive thread about the Ducato!
Mine has just turned 3 years old with 20k miles. Apart from a defective filling valve and O ring on the aircon system (fixed under warranty) along with the ADAS system that doesn't like it when we are driving on the right, it's been a pleasure to own and drive..
Long may this continue

 

[wireman]

I keep seeing negative feedback on the Fiat Ducato but how reliable are they? We have a 2025 auto model.

I saw the results of a What Car survey yesterday, where Fiat was in the 5 least reliable manufacturers.

Two Ducato over 20 years. The first one had only one issue, which did not cause any issues and played on over 11 years. The second one has been 9 years so far without any issues at all so far... Have been kept to Fiat instructions

 

[Smudger55]

I'm not a drama queen, king or whatever but with a 2019 Fiat Ducato have suffered 2x EGR / DPF and one comformatic gearbox repairs all of which were costly. I look after our MHome and don't feel I've done anything to harm the these issues.

Perhaps I've been unlucky but our Fiat Ducato has not been fit for purpose.

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[SVMC15]

I have an end of year 2013 f1ae3481d, 2.3 130bhp euro 5+. I have no complaints, pulls great, economy can be upto 30mpg when doing 50 in europe.

The only engine blip I've had is the dpf pressure sensor threw an alarm several years ago now. Cleared after a few minutes and nothing since. I carry a spare sensor, they are only small and was not much. I've put it down to COVID!

 

[Richard n Ann]

Not had a single issue with my 2014 boxer, had it from new. Even the air bag module is original.

PS just remembered it had a new instrument panel under warranty, but they all had that

 

[PhilG]

Ours has been utterly reliable.

But then we only bought it in July..

Seriously, most vehicle related forums are full of horror stories. The overwhelming majority of owners don't bother to post "no problems with my vehicle this year, it's been great.."

As above, Fiat are by far the biggest supplier of base MH vehicles in Europe.

Ours is from 2022, a 160bh, 2.2 auto. Bought with 4000km on the clock, now with 15000km.

Just enjoy your holidays and think positive..

The MH equivalent of 'nobody rings a Dr to tell them how good they are feeling' and 'misery loves company'

More Ducato MH's have trouble because there are more of them.

My 2.8 JTD did 72,000 miles (45k of it by me) on oil changes .

That said ALL modern vehicles are blighted by bullshit rules that makes them impossible to be reliable .

In the old days, cars lasted mechanically, and the bodies died. Now stuff gets crushed because there is a light on the dash that you cant get to go out.

 

[beachwomble]

Its been reliable on the mechanic side. The problem is the truly shocking bodywork. Paint defects all over the van, at least a dozen rusting points and two dents. I also have a non-working heated windscreen, even after two dealer visits to have it fixed. Then you'll have to deal with Fiat/Stellantis who will do everything not to cover their warranty obligations. I am now at my fourth attempt to have the defects rectified.

 

[optimus-prime]

Happy to read so many positive replies, as I plan to keep my van for at least 10 years. Unfortunately our gearbox ZF9 on the 2.2, 180hp engine MY2023 failed at the end of our first long trip (6k km) then Fiat did not want the service in Zurich to repair / replace it, they just instructed them to perform the known software update…. After that, I did all the possible tests I could think of, and although not feeling it right, I couldn’t really fault it in front of the service… the only thing I didn’t think of was to put some more load on the van (stupid when I think of it now). Then, at the start of the current trip (planned at 8k km) after the first 800 km, the box failed again…. Luckily I was near Hamburg, so plenty of knowledgeable dealers, and this time Fiat agreed to change it. The guys in Germany confirmed this was the process, first software upgrade and see if it fixes it, then the actual replacement.
I hope this was my bad luck, and from now it will run as people are saying above

 

[Coolcats]

The MH equivalent of 'nobody rings a Dr to tell them how good they are feeling' and 'misery loves company'

More Ducato MH's have trouble because there are more of them.

My 2.8 JTD did 72,000 miles (45k of it by me) on oil changes .

That said ALL modern vehicles are blighted by bullshit rules that makes them impossible to be reliable .

In the old days, cars lasted mechanically, and the bodies died. Now stuff gets crushed because there is a light on the dash that you cant get to go out.

Not sure your right about older cars, as a young apprentice I recall stripping engines sending the blocks off to have re-bore for new pistons and rings, removing cylinder heads for a de coke inserting new vales grinding them in and fitting new seals.

Engines leaked oil as did gearbox’s despite replacing seals and of course so did the differentials.

You may remember waking up on a cold morning with engines cranking and not starting and occasionally neighbours push staying cars.

They were the day of ‘good old’ unreliable very questionable mechanicals which puffed and polluted.

I think what you can say is that the old mechanical parts were accessible for maintenance and with the lack of electronics most people could have a go at repairing them.