2003 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Vauxhall Agila passed 74.6% of its 10,281 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.0 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, joints and registration plate lamp(s) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 721 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.9% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 1,409 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 934 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 924 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 778 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.2% | 738 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 580 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 721 |
| 2 | Joints | 583 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 568 |
| 4 | Wipers | 472 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 416 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 344 |
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 | 39.5% | 4,057 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 3,230 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.8% | 2,966 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.4% | 1,888 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 1,480 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 1,475 |
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 | 312 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,763 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,094 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,263 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 629 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 206 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,735 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 2,370 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 2,079 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 1,706 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 1,391 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Agila
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 10,281 2003 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Agila?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 2003 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,281 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.