2003 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 127,100 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 72.4% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (70.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.9% in the 150k+ group versus 15.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 21,584 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 15,813 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 14,020 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 9,658 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 9,365 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 7,069 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 12,830 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 9,605 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 7,987 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,998 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6,506 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6,337 |
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 | 40.4% | 51,279 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.1% | 40,811 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 37,024 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.0% | 24,167 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 22,632 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 15,974 |
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 | 2,857 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 18,559 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 37,712 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 38,669 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 20,006 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 8,564 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 114,843 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 12,257 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,376 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 30,459 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 24,729 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 19,968 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 15,568 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Fiesta
Before buying a 2003 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.4% 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 (11.0% 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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 127,100 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.4%).
Does the 2003 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 127,100 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.