2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
1,855 MOT tests on the 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser are in this dataset, and 67.5% of them passed. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 20.0% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 227 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.2% in the 0-30k band and 36.8% in the 150k+ band, a 23.6-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (34.6% vs 31.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 51.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.8% in 2021 to 27.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.0% | 370 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 219 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 104 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 227 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 186 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 133 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 132 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 95 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 95 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 51.8% | 961 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.2% | 708 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 491 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 380 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.7% | 310 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 309 |
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 | 68 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 256 | 28.5% |
| 60-90k | 448 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 588 | 33.8% |
| 120-150k | 318 | 36.5% |
| 150k+ | 171 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,170 | 31.2% |
| Diesel | 685 | 34.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 597 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 460 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 358 | 33.2% |
| 2024 | 250 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 190 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Pt Cruiser
On a 2003 Pt Cruiser, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (20.0% 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 (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
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 Chrysler Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 1,855 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
Suspension, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.7%).
Does the 2003 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,855 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.