2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Ford Fiesta MOT pass rate and common faults

15,185 MOT tests in 2024. 54.1% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time54.1%
Failed or needed repairs45.9%
Typical mileage at test92,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 15,185 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working7.9%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded6.3%
  3. Service brake imbalance: across an axle4.7%
  4. Position lamp: not working4.1%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.8%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.3%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.2%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    564 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: too low2.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics31.3%
  2. Brakes24.5%
  3. Suspension19.6%
  4. Emissions & leaks15.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)10.9%
  6. Tyres7.8%
  7. Body & chassis7.5%
  8. Steering4.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded30.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine14.8%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.6%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2002 FiestaAll Fiesta years2004 Fiesta →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Ford Fiesta?

In 2024, 54.1% of 2003 Ford Fiesta cars passed their MOT first time, across 15,185 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Ford Fiesta?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; service brake imbalance: across an axle. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Ford Fiesta reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).