2003 Maserati Spyder — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Maserati Spyder passed 84.8% of its 310 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Spyder comes out 12.5pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, headlamp aim and wipers — steering rack alone was recorded 13 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.3% in the 0-30k band and 13.7% in the 60-90k band, a 9.4-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.5% in 2021 to 11.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.8% | 18 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 18 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 11 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.9% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 13 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 7 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 7 |
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 | 21.9% | 68 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 46 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.2% | 44 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.9% | 12 |
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 | 46 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 179 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 62 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 59 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 54 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Spyder
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.8% 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 (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.5% 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 Maserati Spyders pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 310 2003 Maserati Spyder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Maserati Spyder?
Brakes, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.8%).
Does the 2003 Spyder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 310 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.