2003 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,096 MOT tests, the 2003 Renault Master recorded a 69.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.4%) and lighting & signalling (16.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), steering rack and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 284 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.6% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.4% | 538 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 515 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 350 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 264 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 223 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.8% | 211 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 284 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 209 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 193 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 189 |
| 5 | Wipers | 173 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 173 |
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 | 37.7% | 1,168 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.8% | 861 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.4% | 568 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 520 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 498 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.5% | 480 |
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 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 272 | 29.0% |
| 60-90k | 442 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 666 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 626 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,009 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 736 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 684 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 587 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 554 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 535 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.4% 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 (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
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 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 3,096 2003 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Renault Master?
Brakes, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.6%).
Does the 2003 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,096 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.