2003 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 725 MOT tests, the 2003 Bentley Arnage recorded a 90.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 17.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.1%) and suspension (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 25 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Arnage fails 8.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 10.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.7% in 2021 to 10.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.1% | 37 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.1% | 30 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 16 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.5% | 76 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 75 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.6% | 62 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.3% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 123 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 309 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 214 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 7.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 148 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 143 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 146 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 138 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Arnage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 725 2003 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Bentley Arnage?
Brakes, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by suspension (4.1%).
Does the 2003 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 725 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.