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2003 Caterham Unclassified MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Unclassified models manufactured in 2003, based on 255 real MOT test results.

82.7%
Pass Rate
17.3%
Fail Rate
255
Total Tests
23,411
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

2003 Caterham Unclassified MOT Analysis

The 2003 Caterham Unclassified has an MOT pass rate of 82.7% based on 255 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 23,411 miles on the odometer. With a 17.3% failure rate, the 2003 Unclassified is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2003 Caterham Unclassified is Noise, emissions and leaks, responsible for 2.4% of failures. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs range from £100–1,000+. Suspension is the second most common issue at 1.6%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 1.2%.

Top failures specific to 2003 models only. The overall Unclassified page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Noise, Emissions And Leaks2.4%6
2Suspension1.6%4
3Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment1.2%3
4Road Wheels0.4%1
5Steering0.4%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 23,411 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Noise, emissions and leaks1.01% per 10K miSuspension0.67% per 10K miLamps & Electrical0.50% per 10K miWheels0.17% per 10K miSteering0.17% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Noise, emissions and leaks1.012.4%6
Suspension0.671.6%4
Lamps & Electrical0.501.2%3
Wheels0.170.4%1
Steering0.170.4%1

Mileage Statistics

23,411
Mean
17,547
Median
10,789
25th Percentile
36,327
75th Percentile
7.39% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2003 Caterham Unclassified has an MOT pass rate of 82.7% based on 255 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 23,411 miles on the odometer. With a 17.3% failure rate, the 2003 Unclassified is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2003 Caterham Unclassified, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to noise, emissions and leaks: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help. With relatively low average mileage of 23,411 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Noise, emissions and leaks — 2.4% of failures

Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 2.4% of MOT failures on 2003 Caterham Unclassified models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

Suspension — 1.6% of failures

Suspension issues account for 1.6% of MOT failures on 2003 Caterham Unclassified models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 1.2% of failures

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 1.2% of MOT failures on 2003 Caterham Unclassified models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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