2003 Fiat Motor/Caravan — MOT failures & pass rate
303 MOT tests on the 2003 Fiat Motor/Caravan are in this dataset, and 77.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 5.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 8.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 16 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 46 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 20 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 18 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 12 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 6 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 14 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 10 |
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 | 15.5% | 47 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 38 |
| 3 | Tyres | 10.6% | 32 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 31 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 30 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 16 |
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 | 152 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 61 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 64 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 58 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 59 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Motor/Caravan
On a 2003 Motor/Caravan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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 Fiat Motor/Caravans pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 303 2003 Fiat Motor/Caravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Motor/Caravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 2003 Motor/Caravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 30-60k band to 23.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 303 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.