2003 Hyundai Trajet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 411 MOT tests, the 2003 Hyundai Trajet recorded a 68.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2003 Trajet comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.7%) and lighting & signalling (16.8%) 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, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Trajet fails 33.1% of the time in the 60-90k band and 35.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 28.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 77 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 52 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 36 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 20 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 30 |
| 4 | Wipers | 24 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | Suspension | 38.9% | 160 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.7% | 151 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.1% | 103 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.7% | 81 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 67 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 127 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 145 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 90 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 224 | 32.6% |
| Diesel | 187 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 137 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 97 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 85 | 35.3% |
| 2024 | 53 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 39 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Trajet
On a 2003 Trajet, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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 Hyundai Trajets pass their MOT?
68.1% of the 411 2003 Hyundai Trajet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Hyundai Trajet?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.8%).
Does the 2003 Trajet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.1% in the 60-90k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 411 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.