2003 Ford Ranger MOT pass rate: 64.0% (3,077 tests)
Is the 2003 Ranger getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64.1% -0.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 64.1% -0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 63.8% -2.3 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 Ranger
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,239 | 26.8% |
| 2 | Body, chassis, structure | 971 | 21.0% |
| 3 | Brakes | 836 | 18.1% |
| 4 | Suspension | 780 | 16.9% |
| 5 | Visibility | 218 | 4.7% |
| 6 | Tyres | 184 | 4.0% |
All Ranger years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,664 | 65.7% | -0.9 pts | 131,458 |
| 2002 | 2,214 | 64.1% | -1.6 pts | 133,600 |
| 2003 (this page) | 3,077 | 64.0% | -1.0 pts | 128,128 |
| 2004 | 5,284 | 62.0% | -2.3 pts | 126,895 |
| 2005 | 6,031 | 64.3% | -0.2 pts | 123,189 |
| 2006 | 7,229 | 60.9% | -3.5 pts | 127,346 |
| 2007 | 8,613 | 64.4% | -0.7 pts | 134,110 |
| 2008 | 6,261 | 65.9% | +0.8 pts | 126,534 |
| 2009 | 6,945 | 65.1% | -1.3 pts | 123,207 |
| 2010 | 4,279 | 64.1% | -3.3 pts | 118,006 |
| 2011 | 4,627 | 67.7% | -1.5 pts | 115,462 |
| 2012 | 5,625 | 67.4% | -3.9 pts | 106,369 |
| 2013 | 8,690 | 72.1% | -1.3 pts | 100,295 |
| 2014 | 11,868 | 72.1% | -3.7 pts | 94,612 |
| 2015 | 18,283 | 73.0% | -5.7 pts | 86,385 |
| 2016 | 30,529 | 77.4% | -3.9 pts | 79,523 |
| 2017 | 31,321 | 78.5% | -5.6 pts | 71,866 |
| 2018 | 41,038 | 80.0% | -6.4 pts | 65,100 |
| 2019 | 42,083 | 82.1% | -6.3 pts | 55,595 |
| 2020 | 33,362 | 83.4% | -6.5 pts | 45,864 |
| 2021 | 31,099 | 85.0% | -5.4 pts | 44,514 |
| 2022 | 15,028 | 86.3% | -4.9 pts | 40,222 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Ford Ranger years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Ford Ranger reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 64.0% of their MOT tests (3,077 tests, 2023–2025), -1.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 128,128 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Ranger?
The median tested example shows 128,128 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.