Ford FIESTA - 2003
377.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford FIESTA, model year 2003.
Sample size: 15,380 cars, 33,386 tests and 126,154 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 15,380 cars
The 2003 Ford Fiesta has a defect rate of 378 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly lower than the average for its year at 378. The defect rates increase significantly with mileage, particularly in the highest mileage category, but the Fiesta performs well in terms of steering, body structure, and equipment defects, with notably lower rates than the average. There are no standout categories where it performs worse than average, indicating a generally reliable performance compared to its peers. Overall, this model exhibits a comparable defect rate while excelling in several key areas.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 15,380 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 21.4% worse
205.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
Steering
▲ 21.4% better
19.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▼ 3.4% worse
30.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 20.1% better
82.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 1.9% worse
307.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 40.5% better
38.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 44.9% better
7.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- Audible warning:
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▼ 19.7% worse
63.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,139
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,249
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,690
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,238
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,750
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 3,609
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,324
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,288
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,965
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,873
Serious faults (Top 10)
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,515
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,090
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,310
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,288
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,092
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,064
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 862
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 844
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 824
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 800