2003 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Toyota Supra passed 85.8% of its 556 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 8.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests against 4.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 30-60k band and 20.2% in the 150k+ band, a 9.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.4% in 2021 to 12.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 26 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 6 | Washers | 13 |
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 | 19.4% | 108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 106 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.2% | 90 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 83 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.2% | 40 |
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 | 46 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 161 | 9.3% |
| 90-120k | 154 | 17.5% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 11.5% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 138 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 118 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 127 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 91 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 82 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Supra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Toyota Supras pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 556 2003 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by brakes (4.7%).
Does the 2003 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 30-60k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 556 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.