2003 Mazda Bongo/Friendee — MOT failures & pass rate
288 MOT tests on the 2003 Mazda Bongo/Friendee are in this dataset, and 83.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2003 Bongo/Friendee comes out 10.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests against 6.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 30-60k band and 20.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Lighting & signalling is the most common advisory, noted on 16.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 47 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 11 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 9 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 22 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 46 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 46 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 33 | 6.1% |
| 60-90k | 70 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 48 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 52 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 74 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 79 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Bongo/Friendee
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 Mazda Bongo/Friendees pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 288 2003 Mazda Bongo/Friendee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Mazda Bongo/Friendee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2003 Bongo/Friendee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 30-60k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 288 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.