2003 Ford Galaxy MOT pass rate: 57.9% (2,212 tests)
Is the 2003 Galaxy getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 56.2% -8.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 57.4% -7.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 62.4% -3.7 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 Galaxy
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1,196 | 27.5% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 820 | 18.8% |
| 3 | Body, chassis, structure | 753 | 17.3% |
| 4 | Brakes | 685 | 15.7% |
| 5 | Steering | 301 | 6.9% |
| 6 | Tyres | 236 | 5.4% |
All Galaxy years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 (this page) | 2,212 | 57.9% | -7.0 pts | 139,004 |
| 2004 | 2,643 | 54.4% | -9.8 pts | 139,112 |
| 2005 | 4,299 | 56.1% | -8.4 pts | 137,301 |
| 2006 | 5,282 | 58.1% | -6.3 pts | 143,590 |
| 2007 | 9,892 | 60.9% | -4.2 pts | 144,626 |
| 2008 | 10,420 | 62.6% | -2.5 pts | 139,010 |
| 2009 | 11,571 | 64.3% | -2.1 pts | 132,387 |
| 2010 | 12,674 | 65.2% | -2.2 pts | 126,500 |
| 2011 | 13,242 | 64.4% | -4.8 pts | 119,862 |
| 2012 | 13,420 | 65.3% | -6.0 pts | 114,636 |
| 2013 | 11,954 | 67.1% | -6.3 pts | 111,069 |
| 2014 | 13,303 | 66.7% | -9.2 pts | 101,986 |
| 2015 | 7,785 | 73.1% | -5.7 pts | 103,664 |
| 2016 | 14,423 | 84.1% | +2.7 pts | 84,989 |
| 2017 | 15,681 | 84.5% | +0.5 pts | 73,678 |
| 2018 | 10,615 | 85.8% | -0.6 pts | 72,822 |
| 2019 | 7,775 | 84.5% | -3.9 pts | 51,831 |
| 2020 | 4,684 | 85.8% | -4.1 pts | 32,725 |
| 2021 | 2,577 | 80.7% | -9.7 pts | 43,093 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Ford Galaxy years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2003 Ford Galaxy reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 57.9% of their MOT tests (2,212 tests, 2023–2025), -7.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 139,004 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Galaxy?
The median tested example shows 139,004 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.