2003 TVR Tuscan — MOT failures & pass rate
603 MOT tests on the 2003 TVR Tuscan are in this dataset, and 93.9% of them passed. That is 21.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and emissions & environmental (2.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Tuscan fails 6.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.5% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 21 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 2 | Washers | 11 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 5 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 37 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.6% | 28 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 16 |
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 | 146 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 369 | 6.2% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 5.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 124 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 120 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 122 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 113 | 4.4% |
| 2025 | 124 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Tuscan
On a 2003 Tuscan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 TVR Tuscans pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 603 2003 TVR Tuscan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 TVR Tuscan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.0%).
Does the 2003 Tuscan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 5.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 603 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.