2003 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,150 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 69.5% was below the average for large family cars of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.6% in the 150k+ group versus 15.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.1% | 3,200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 3,187 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 2,720 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,571 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 1,374 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 1,248 |
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 | 1,415 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,310 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 1,102 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,033 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,005 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,002 |
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 | 46.1% | 9,753 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.3% | 8,093 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.6% | 6,044 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 5,090 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 3,511 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 3,362 |
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 | 193 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,489 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,405 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 5,891 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 4,774 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 4,354 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,581 | 29.7% |
| Diesel | 6,565 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,018 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 5,171 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 3,911 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 2,879 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 2,171 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Mondeo
Before buying a 2003 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.1% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.1% 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.
- Brakes (15.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Mondeos pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 21,150 2003 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by brakes (15.1%).
Does the 2003 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,150 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.