2003 Iveco Daily — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Iveco Daily passed 66.3% of its 945 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.7 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (22.5%) and brakes (21.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 109 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.8% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 32.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.5% | 213 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 205 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 130 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 71 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 68 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.5% | 33 |
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 | 109 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 108 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 89 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 81 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 76 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
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 | 37.9% | 358 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 268 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 220 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 167 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 167 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.0% | 123 |
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 | 51 | 23.5% |
| 30-60k | 115 | 31.3% |
| 60-90k | 150 | 31.3% |
| 90-120k | 184 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 38.8% |
| 150k+ | 247 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 198 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 209 | 35.4% |
| 2023 | 188 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 180 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 170 | 36.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Daily
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (21.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.8% 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 Iveco Dailys pass their MOT?
66.3% of the 945 2003 Iveco Daily MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Iveco Daily?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.5% of tests, followed by brakes (21.7%).
Does the 2003 Daily get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 945 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.