2003 Suzuki Jimny MOT pass rate: 66.9% (5,126 tests)
Is the 2003 Jimny getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 67.6% +3.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 66.4% +1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 66.5% +0.4 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 Jimny
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,436 | 22.0% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,237 | 18.9% |
| 3 | Suspension | 1,174 | 18.0% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 887 | 13.6% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 633 | 9.7% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 467 | 7.1% |
All Jimny years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,586 | 67.0% | +0.4 pts | 86,293 |
| 2002 | 3,917 | 67.9% | +2.1 pts | 89,305 |
| 2003 (this page) | 5,126 | 66.9% | +1.8 pts | 88,254 |
| 2004 | 6,023 | 66.5% | +2.1 pts | 84,687 |
| 2005 | 5,053 | 66.4% | +1.8 pts | 82,211 |
| 2006 | 4,701 | 65.2% | +0.7 pts | 80,866 |
| 2007 | 4,878 | 66.8% | +1.7 pts | 76,900 |
| 2008 | 3,475 | 72.1% | +7.0 pts | 72,235 |
| 2009 | 2,511 | 73.6% | +7.2 pts | 67,899 |
| 2010 | 2,022 | 72.7% | +5.4 pts | 63,839 |
| 2011 | 2,254 | 76.0% | +6.9 pts | 57,768 |
| 2012 | 2,694 | 77.9% | +6.7 pts | 55,062 |
| 2013 | 2,705 | 80.8% | +7.5 pts | 49,590 |
| 2014 | 2,556 | 81.4% | +5.6 pts | 42,776 |
| 2015 | 2,905 | 80.4% | +1.7 pts | 38,276 |
| 2016 | 3,098 | 83.3% | +2.0 pts | 33,390 |
| 2017 | 2,800 | 84.8% | +0.8 pts | 28,516 |
| 2019 | 3,535 | 94.5% | +6.2 pts | 23,657 |
| 2020 | 2,623 | 95.9% | +6.0 pts | 18,603 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Suzuki Jimny reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 66.9% of their MOT tests (5,126 tests, 2023–2025), +1.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 88,254 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Jimny?
The median tested example shows 88,254 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.