2003 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,259 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Ford Ranger, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.0% was in line with the average for pick-up trucks of a similar age (71.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.4% in the 150k+ group versus 18.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 1,705 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 1,211 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.6% | 1,121 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.0% | 990 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 453 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 280 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 776 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 683 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 647 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 626 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 605 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 469 |
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 | 38.8% | 3,206 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.0% | 2,728 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.2% | 2,327 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.9% | 1,565 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,350 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 1,301 |
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 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 314 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,128 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,971 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,146 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,637 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,221 | 29.0% |
| Petrol | 38 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,359 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 1,924 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 1,601 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 1,303 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 1,072 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Ranger
Before buying a 2003 Ford Ranger, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.7% 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+.
- Brakes (13.6% 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.
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 Rangers pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 8,259 2003 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.7%).
Does the 2003 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,259 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.