Man Unknown (2003)
2003 Man Unknown
CarHunch is tracking 4,517 2003 Man Unknown vehicles on UK roads. MOT test data will appear here once vehicles from this cohort reach their first test date.
The 2003 MAN with a 50% first-time pass rate is significantly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these vehicles face real durability challenges after two decades on the road. Diesel variants, which make up 99.8% of this cohort, pass at just 0.3%—an alarming figure that points to systemic issues in this model line, though the complete absence of dangerous defects (0%) is a small mercy.
The median mileage of 217,000 miles is substantial for a 21-year-old vehicle, yet the average of 245,706 miles indicates some have been driven considerably harder, which explains the pattern of failures. With fewer than 0.01 failures per vehicle on average, most don't fail catastrophically—but the extremely high failure rate at first test suggests deferred maintenance rather than inherent mechanical vice. Before buying, get a full independent inspection focused on braking, steering, and emissions systems, as these are typically what trips older commercials like this.
We have 4,517 2003 Man Unknown vehicles on record but don't have enough MOT test data to show reliable statistics for this cohort.
What to check before buying a 2003 Man Unknown
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Man Unknown
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (100%) | 4,501 | 0.3% | 0 |
| Diesel (0%) | 10 | 64.6% | 1.2 |
| Petrol (0%) | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Man Unknown vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2003 Man Unknown vehicles fall between 65,825 and 372,050 miles.
Most Common MOT Issues — 2003 Man Unknown
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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17.4%
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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17.4%
Offside Indicator tell-tale inoperative
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17.4%
Offside Rear bump stop bent outwards
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17.4%
Offside Front Leaf spring has slight wear in a shackle pin and/or bush rear bushes
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17.4%
Nearside Front king pin slight lift
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17.4%
Nearside Front Leaf spring has slight wear in a shackle pin and/or bush rear bushes
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13%
Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play
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13%
Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases at manifold gasket
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Man Unknown?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.