2003 Hyundai Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
2,067 MOT tests on the 2003 Hyundai Coupe are in this dataset, and 65.5% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 11.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 22.0% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 297 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.5% in 2021 to 31.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.0% | 455 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 340 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 267 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.9% | 267 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 165 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 140 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 297 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 205 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 165 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 140 |
| 5 | Joints | 139 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 132 |
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 | 41.8% | 863 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 650 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 537 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.4% | 504 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 23.4% | 483 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 341 |
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 | 66 | 22.7% |
| 30-60k | 343 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 782 | 35.2% |
| 90-120k | 567 | 38.3% |
| 120-150k | 225 | 36.0% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 37.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 681 | 35.5% |
| 2022 | 518 | 36.1% |
| 2023 | 384 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 284 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 200 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Coupe
On a 2003 Coupe, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (22.0% 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 (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% 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 Hyundai Coupes pass their MOT?
65.5% of the 2,067 2003 Hyundai Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Hyundai Coupe?
Brakes, recorded in 22.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.4%).
Does the 2003 Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 0-30k band to 37.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,067 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.