Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Ford Fusion?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2003 Ford Fusion?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2003 Ford Fusion?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2003 Ford Fusion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2003 Ford Fusion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 19,880 vehicles, the 2003 Ford Fusion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Ford Fusion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Ford Fusion are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (85.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Ford Fusion?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Fusion (2003)

19,880 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.2% first-time pass rate

2003 Ford Fusion

CarHunch analysed 19,880 real MOT records for the 2003 Ford Fusion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Ford Fusion is below the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 75.2% against the national 80%, and a concerning 30% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—significantly higher than typical used cars. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (75.4% and 74.4% respectively), so fuel choice won't meaningfully improve your odds.

At an average mileage of 67,000 miles for a 21-year-old car, these Fusions have run relatively hard, yet they're still generating nearly 5 failures per test and 22 advisories—suggesting wear and deterioration across multiple systems rather than one critical weakness. Before viewing one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on safety items (brakes, suspension, steering) since dangerous defects are prevalent; also budget for remedial work, as most examples will need repairs to pass.

The 2003 Ford Fusion has a decent first-time pass rate (75.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.8

Over 18.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

62k

Middle half: 48k–77k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 19,880 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 19,880 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 85.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 58.8%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 35.4%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak

Lighting 30.8%

Nearside Stop lamp not working · Offside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 19,880 Ford Fusion cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Ford Fusion

Based on MOT data from 19,880 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (80%)	15,878	75.4%	4.75
Diesel (20%)	3,994	74.4%	5.01

Colour Breakdown

Based on 108,841 Ford Fusion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.2%

34,994

Blue 23%

25,067

Black 14.8%

16,158

Grey 11.9%

12,973

Green 9%

9,749

Red 5%

5,485

Purple 1.9%

2,069

Orange 1.8%

1,921

White 0.2%

191

Gold 0.1%

148

Maroon 0%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Ford Fusion vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

61,882

typical

48,102

low mileage

76,755

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Ford Fusion vehicles fall between 48,102 and 76,755 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 48,102 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 48,102–76,755 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Ford Fusions sit.

⚠ Over 103,619 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Ford Fusion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2003 Ford Fusions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,869 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

18.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.8

Avg failures per vehicle

22.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Fusion: All Fusion years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Ford Fusion stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing