2003 Ford Maverick — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 662 MOT tests, the 2003 Ford Maverick recorded a 68.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 21.8% of tests against 15.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, flexible brake hoses and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 160 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.2% versus 19.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.2% in 2021 to 29.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.8% | 144 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 105 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 80 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.8% | 78 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 37 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.5% | 30 |
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 | 160 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 57 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 48 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 32 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 32 |
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 | 42.9% | 284 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.8% | 204 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.3% | 194 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.0% | 185 |
| 5 | Tyres | 26.4% | 175 |
| 6 | Other defects | 23.1% | 153 |
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 | 41 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 251 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 162 | 37.0% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 172 | 34.3% |
| 2023 | 122 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 61 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Maverick
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 21.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (21.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.1% 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 Ford Mavericks pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 662 2003 Ford Maverick MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Maverick?
Suspension, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2003 Maverick get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 662 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.