2003 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Ford Fiesta passed 72.4% of its 127,105 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.4% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests against 12.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, stop lamp and catalyst emissions — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 12,830 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.9% versus 15.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.5% fail against 29.1% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 127,105 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 21,587 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 15,814 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 14,021 |
| 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 | 6,999 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6,506 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6,339 |
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 | 40.3% | 51,279 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.1% | 40,814 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 37,025 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.0% | 24,169 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 22,633 |
| 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 | 2,859 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 18,559 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 37,713 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 38,669 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 20,008 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 8,564 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 114,846 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 12,259 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,376 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 30,459 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 24,729 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 19,972 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 15,569 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- 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 127,105 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 127,105 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.