2003 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,135 MOT tests, the 2003 Hyundai Accent recorded a 69.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 2003 Accent comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.9% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 119 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 39.5% versus 14.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 27.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 192 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 143 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 140 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.3% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 82 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 77 |
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 | 119 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 102 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 90 |
| 4 | Joints | 89 |
| 5 | Wipers | 66 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 65 |
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 | 43.0% | 488 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 355 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 305 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 221 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.0% | 216 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 197 |
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 | 54 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 291 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 453 | 32.9% |
| 90-120k | 262 | 37.0% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 39.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,086 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 49 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 376 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 285 | 35.1% |
| 2023 | 198 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 162 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 114 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Accent
On a 2003 Accent, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.6% 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+.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
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 Hyundai Accents pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 1,135 2003 Hyundai Accent MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Hyundai Accent?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.6%).
Does the 2003 Accent get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 39.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,135 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.