2003 Toyota Landcruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,835 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Toyota Landcruiser, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 77.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.1% in the 150k+ group versus 13.3% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 363 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 297 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 285 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 266 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 108 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 85 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 122 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 120 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 120 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 110 |
| 5 | Joints | 107 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 106 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.6% | 1,093 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.8% | 817 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.3% | 690 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 424 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.8% | 420 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 374 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 30 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 433 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 643 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,577 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,628 | 22.5% |
| Petrol | 207 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 703 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 643 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 574 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 487 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 428 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Landcruiser
Before buying a 2003 Toyota Landcruiser, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Toyota Landcruisers pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 2,835 2003 Toyota Landcruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Toyota Landcruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.5%).
Does the 2003 Landcruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,835 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.