2003 Dodge Ram — MOT failures & pass rate
477 MOT tests on the 2003 Dodge Ram are in this dataset, and 84.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 11.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests against 6.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint dust cover and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 30-60k band and 23.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 33 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 10 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 28 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 20 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 14 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 14 |
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 | 25.4% | 121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.5% | 117 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.5% | 55 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.5% | 50 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 60 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 9.9% |
| 150k+ | 117 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 416 | 16.8% |
| Diesel | 57 | 7.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 119 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 105 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 95 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 99 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Ram
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 (5.9% 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.
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 Dodge Rams pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 477 2003 Dodge Ram MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Dodge Ram?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.9%).
Does the 2003 Ram get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 477 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.