Used car guide

2003 Ford Fiesta: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Ford Fiesta first registered in 2003: we looked at the 12,089 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,089MOTs of 2003 cars, done 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 goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Ford Fiesta?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Ford Fiesta 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.

Common 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT failures and advisories

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.

Known faults on the 2003 Ford Fiesta

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Power steering belt recall

    All engines

    The power steering drive belt could break up and snap, so the steering suddenly goes heavy. There was a recall to fit a new belt.

    At the viewing: Ask for proof the recall was done, and look at the belt for cracks.

    Source: Haynes: Ford Fiesta Mk6 common problems (2002-2008)

  • Rear axle recall

    Some cars

    Some cars were recalled because a weld on the rear axle wasn’t up to standard. The axle was replaced free.

    At the viewing: Ask whether the rear axle recall was done.

    Source: Haynes: Ford Fiesta Mk6 common problems (2002-2008)

  • Sticky change into third gear

    Manual gearbox

    Worn synchro rings make the change into third and fourth feel sticky. It’s a gearbox-out job for a specialist.

    At the viewing: Change up and down through third and fourth several times and feel for stiffness or crunching.

    Source: Haynes: Ford Fiesta Mk6 common problems (2002-2008)

  • Air con that stops working

    Cars with air con

    The air con can stop working, or the compressor runs all the time, usually because of a faulty pressure switch.

    At the viewing: Make sure the air con blows cold and switches off properly.

    Source: Haynes: Ford Fiesta Mk6 common problems (2002-2008)

  • Grinding from the front

    All engines

    A worn driveshaft centre bearing makes a grinding noise from under the front.

    At the viewing: Listen for grinding when turning and at speed.

    Source: Haynes: Ford Fiesta Mk6 common problems (2002-2008)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Ford Fiesta

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2003 Ford Fiesta as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2003 Ford Fiesta as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2003 Ford Fiesta as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Fiesta?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Fiesta compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,253Tyres 15%
202223,364Tyres 21%
202125,716Tyres 25%
202046,359Tyres 30%
201978,044Tyres 31%
201892,925Tyres 31%
201789,573Tyres 31%
2016112,893Suspension 34%
2015123,649Suspension 37%
2014120,179Suspension 42%
2013109,737Suspension 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%
19991,179Suspension 54%
1998935Suspension 55%
1997430Suspension 53%
1996256Suspension 42%
1995251Brakes 33%
1994163Suspension 39%
1993131Suspension 34%
1992172Suspension 25%
1991278Suspension 19%
1990174Lights and electrics 22%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests

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