2003 Renault Laguna — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Renault Laguna passed 67.8% of its 2,762 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.5%) and lighting & signalling (16.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, track rod end and coil spring — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 219 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.4% in the 0-30k band and 33.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread.
The diesel cars hold up better: 30.8% fail against 33.0% for petrol, a 2.2-point gap across 2,762 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.5% | 456 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 448 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 362 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.7% | 185 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 169 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 144 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 219 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 185 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 163 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 150 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 140 |
| 6 | Wipers | 135 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.0% | 1,105 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.9% | 1,048 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 773 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.7% | 683 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 393 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 369 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 54 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 379 | 28.2% |
| 60-90k | 804 | 32.2% |
| 90-120k | 731 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 501 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 283 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,736 | 33.0% |
| Diesel | 1,026 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 935 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 691 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 493 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 374 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 269 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Laguna
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
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 Renault Lagunas pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 2,762 2003 Renault Laguna MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Renault Laguna?
Suspension, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.2%).
Does the 2003 Laguna get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,762 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.