2003 Mazda Tribute — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Mazda Tribute passed 66.6% of its 338 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2003 Tribute comes out 5.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 21.3% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, flexible brake hoses and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 94 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.9% in the 30-60k band and 32.6% in the 120-150k band, a 14.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.2% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 56 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 43 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 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 | 94 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 47 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 25 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 22 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 22 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 21 |
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 | 35.8% | 121 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 94 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 82 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 78 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 70 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.5% | 59 |
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 | 39 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 35.9% |
| 90-120k | 145 | 35.2% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 35.2% |
| 2022 | 87 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 65 | 35.4% |
| 2024 | 34 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Tribute
On a 2003 Tribute, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (21.3% 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 (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.7% 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 Mazda Tributes pass their MOT?
66.6% of the 338 2003 Mazda Tribute MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Mazda Tribute?
Suspension, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.6%).
Does the 2003 Tribute get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 338 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.