Used car guide

2003 Ford Fiesta: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Ford Fiestas, from 12,089 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,089MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Ford Fiestas than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    34.6% All 2003 cars
    18.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 2.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    10.8% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake lights2× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    11.3% All 2003 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 4.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wheels3.7× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    5.6% All 2003 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes pulling to one side2.8× usual
    Ford Fiesta
    5.6% All 2003 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Headlights: 4% here, against 12.1% of all 2003 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.2% here, against 8.7% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    49% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    44% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Ford Fiesta?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023929Tyres 14%
202221,386Tyres 21%
202121,189Tyres 25%
202042,319Tyres 30%
201977,999Tyres 31%
201892,925Tyres 31%
201789,572Tyres 31%
2016112,892Suspension 34%
2015123,648Suspension 36%
2014120,179Suspension 42%
2013109,735Suspension 47%
201295,811Suspension 49%
201181,022Suspension 48%
201081,339Suspension 49%
200984,688Suspension 51%
200848,776Lights and electrics 47%
200743,840Lights and electrics 48%
200634,565Suspension 49%
200520,046Suspension 51%
200416,219Suspension 50%
20025,742Suspension 46%
20012,014Suspension 54%
20001,174Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Ford Fiestas registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score