2003 Toyota Surf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 340 MOT tests, the 2003 Toyota Surf recorded a 78.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, joints and ball joint — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Surf fails 24.4% of the time in the 90-120k band and 21.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.0% in 2021 to 18.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 48 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 37 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.8% | 23 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 10 |
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 | Joints | 16 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 15 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 14 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 11 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 11 |
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 | 42.1% | 143 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 88 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.4% | 83 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.1% | 82 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.8% | 64 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 49 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 45 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 203 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91 | 22.0% |
| 2022 | 89 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 72 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 51 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 37 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Surf
On a 2003 Surf, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.9% 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 Toyota Surfs pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 340 2003 Toyota Surf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Toyota Surf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2003 Surf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 90-120k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340 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.