Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo?

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 Isuzu Rodeo?

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 Isuzu Rodeo?

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 Isuzu Rodeo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 Isuzu Rodeo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 400 vehicles, the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.5%, 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 Isuzu Rodeo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (64.4% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (57.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (57% 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 Isuzu Rodeo?

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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Isuzu Rodeo (2003)

400 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.5% first-time pass rate

2003 Isuzu Rodeo

CarHunch analysed 400 real MOT records for the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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

Moderate sample. 400 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2003 Isuzu Rodeo's 72.5% first-time pass rate sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a third of these vehicles (30.8%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a genuine buyer concern. This diesel-only cohort struggles with reliability relative to other vehicles its age.

At roughly 86,000 miles median and 91,300 miles average, these Rodeos show typical mileage wear for their age, but they're averaging 4.5 failures and 23 advisories per test, indicating persistent mechanical issues. If you're considering one, budget for near-certain repair costs and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the dangerous defect history—suspension, brakes, and steering problems appear common in this model.

The 2003 Isuzu Rodeo has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

72.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

30.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.49

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 66k–112k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.9 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 400 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 400 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 64.4%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Leaf spring has slight wear in a shackle pin and/or bush · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 57%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Tyre wear 46.8%

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

Other issues 27.1%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Lighting 26.8%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog 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 400 Isuzu Rodeo cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo

Based on MOT data from 400 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.8% 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
Diesel (99%)	396	72.5%	4.52

Colour Breakdown

Based on 12,566 Isuzu Rodeo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.9%

3,508

Black 20.3%

2,546

Blue 17.5%

2,199

Green 9.8%

1,232

Gold 6.5%

819

Maroon 5.4%

683

Red 4.3%

541

Grey 4.2%

525

White 3.9%

496

Yellow 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Isuzu Rodeo 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.

86,320

typical

66,319

low mileage

112,030

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Isuzu Rodeo vehicles fall between 66,319 and 112,030 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 66,319 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.

✓ 66,319–112,030 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Isuzu Rodeos sit.

⚠ Over 151,240 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Isuzu Rodeo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2003 Isuzu Rodeos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 45 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.49

Avg failures per vehicle

22.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Isuzu Rodeo: All Rodeo years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Isuzu →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on