2003 Honda Jazz MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 54.9% of Honda Jazz cars first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. Across 17,858 Jazz first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Honda Jazz cars first used in 2003 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
54.9%
of 5,070 first tests; all cars first used in 2003: 58.7%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
17,858
first tests, 2023–2025; 5,070 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
14.1%
of 5,070 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
94,500
middle half: 72,000–119,500 miles; all cars first used in 2003: 103,000

How the 2003 Honda Jazz MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Jazz cars first used in 2003 against all cars first used in 2003 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Jazz figure was 3.8 points lower.

2003 JazzAll cars first used in 2003
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2003, test year 2021: 54%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2023: 56.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2024: 57.2%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2025: 58.7%2003 Jazz, test year 2021: 58%2003 Jazz, test year 2022: 57.4%2003 Jazz, test year 2023: 56.6%2003 Jazz, test year 2024: 53.9%2003 Jazz, test year 2025: 54.9%58.7%54.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2003 JazzAll cars first used 2003Jazz first tests
202158.0%54.0%8,897
202257.4%55.7%7,744
202356.6%56.7%6,899
202453.9%57.2%5,889
202554.9%58.7%5,070

Common 2003 Honda Jazz MOT failures

Share of the 8,000 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment50.5%
Suspension42.2%
Brakes22.5%
Visibility22.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks19.4%
Body, chassis, structure17.2%
Tyres15.7%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems4.2%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working15.8%1,263
Position lamp: not working14.4%1,153
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively10.9%873
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength10.6%846
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect9.7%774

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2003 Honda Jazz before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2003 Honda Jazz MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2003 Jazz cars, as a share of all 17,858 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material25.8%4,612
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement19.0%3,385
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge17.0%3,030
Coil spring: corroded14.6%2,607
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing13.4%2,397

Questions about the 2003 Honda Jazz MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2003 Honda Jazz?

In 2025, 54.9% of Jazz cars first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2003 Jazz most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 50.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (42.2%) and brakes (22.5%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (15.8%).

How often does a 2003 Honda Jazz fail its MOT?

In 2025, 45.1% of first tests on Jazz cars first used in 2003 did not pass first time: 35.9% failed, and a further 9.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 8,000 of 17,858 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2003 Honda Jazz MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 25.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (19.0%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (17.0%), “Coil spring: corroded” (14.6%) and “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (13.4%).

Is a 2003 Honda Jazz reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 58.0% in 2021 to 54.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2003

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2003 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2003 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2003 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2003 Honda Jazz MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2003 Jazz” means a Honda Jazz whose date of first use falls in 2003 (52, 03 and 53 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2003, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.