2003 Fiat Hymer — MOT failures & pass rate
442 MOT tests on the 2003 Fiat Hymer are in this dataset, and 74.4% of them passed. That is 2.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 8.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, position lamp and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.1% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 39 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 27 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.3% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 31 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 23 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 20 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 19 |
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 | 19.7% | 87 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.8% | 83 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 82 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 55 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 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 | 189 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 96 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 79 | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 87 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 82 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 84 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Hymer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Hymers pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 442 2003 Fiat Hymer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Hymer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (8.8%).
Does the 2003 Hymer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 34.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 442 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.