2003 Fiat Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Fiat Camper passed 75.8% of its 384 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Camper comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.8% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and stop lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Camper fails 24.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 25.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 57 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 41 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 27 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 2 | Wipers | 19 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 15 |
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 | 27.1% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 101 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.0% | 73 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 52 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.8% | 49 |
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 | 174 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 40 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 79 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 82 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 71 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 79 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Camper
On a 2003 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 (7.0% 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.
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 Fiat Campers pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 384 2003 Fiat Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2003 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 384 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.