2003 Peugeot Expert — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Peugeot Expert passed 68.8% of its 3,533 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2003 Expert comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.8%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) 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, joints and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 536 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.0% in the 0-30k band and 34.3% in the 150k+ band, a 6.3-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.7% in 2021 to 29.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.8% | 592 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 561 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 551 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.2% | 397 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 268 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 182 |
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 | 536 |
| 2 | Joints | 297 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 209 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 201 |
| 5 | Wipers | 185 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 184 |
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 | 36.0% | 1,271 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 1,183 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 940 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.6% | 903 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.6% | 834 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 653 |
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 | 382 | 28.0% |
| 30-60k | 82 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 232 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 431 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 532 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 819 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,164 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 877 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 663 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 484 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 345 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Expert
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.8% 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 (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.6% 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 Peugeot Experts pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 3,533 2003 Peugeot Expert MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Peugeot Expert?
Suspension, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2003 Expert get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,533 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.