2003 Ford Tourneo Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Ford Tourneo Connect passed 67.7% of its 306 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 24.5% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 36.0% in the 90-120k band and 31.5% in the 150k+ band, a 4.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.9% in 2021 to 29.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.5% | 75 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 43 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 18 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 17 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Joints | 23 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 22 |
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 | 42.5% | 130 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 36.9% | 113 |
| 3 | Suspension | 36.9% | 113 |
| 4 | Tyres | 30.4% | 93 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 27.1% | 83 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 66 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 86 | 36.0% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 92 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 62 | 35.5% |
| 2024 | 52 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 37 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Tourneo Connect
On a 2003 Tourneo Connect, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (24.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.0% 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.
- Brakes (14.1% 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.
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 Tourneo Connects pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 306 2003 Ford Tourneo Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Tourneo Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2003 Tourneo Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.0% in the 90-120k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306 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.