2003 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,907 MOT tests, the 2003 Ford Transit recorded a 68.8% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2003 Transit comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.6%) and suspension (17.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 6,572 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.1% versus 26.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.2% of the time against 31.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 29.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 3,514 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 3,367 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 2,808 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.8% | 2,416 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 1,606 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.0% | 748 |
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 | 6,572 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 3,075 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 2,735 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,245 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,231 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 1,227 |
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 | 37.5% | 7,098 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.5% | 6,900 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 4,877 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.8% | 3,737 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 3,673 |
| 6 | Visibility | 14.7% | 2,778 |
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 | 454 | 26.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,509 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,550 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,627 | 33.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,124 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 6,233 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,229 | 31.3% |
| Petrol | 669 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,588 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 4,572 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 3,558 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 2,879 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 2,310 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Transit
On a 2003 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.8% 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 Transits pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 18,907 2003 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by suspension (17.8%).
Does the 2003 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,907 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.