2003 Fiat Motorhome. — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Fiat Motorhome. passed 76.3% of its 972 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Motorhome. comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.1%) and brakes (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 60 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 21.3% in the 90-120k band, a 10.3-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 127 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 108 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.6% | 64 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 63 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.3% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 60 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 59 |
| 3 | Wipers | 50 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 43 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 39 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 35 |
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 | 21.4% | 208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 206 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 153 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 124 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.0% | 117 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 66 |
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 | 64 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 481 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 191 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 198 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 195 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 192 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 196 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Motorhome.
On a 2003 Motorhome., lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 Motorhome.s pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 972 2003 Fiat Motorhome. MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Motorhome.?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 2003 Motorhome. get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 972 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.