2003 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Vauxhall Astra passed 71.8% of its 64,821 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2003 Astra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.8% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7,959 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.1% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (30.8% vs 27.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 45.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.6% in 2021 to 26.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 12,215 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.8% | 8,970 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 7,913 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 4,572 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 4,374 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 4,290 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7,959 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,686 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4,950 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 3,193 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 3,074 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,934 |
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 | 45.9% | 29,780 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.7% | 24,409 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 18,394 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.3% | 11,871 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 10,515 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.5% | 10,054 |
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 | 1,223 | 22.3% |
| 30-60k | 7,344 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 17,101 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 17,379 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 11,121 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 9,460 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,075 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 14,735 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,097 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 15,386 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 12,313 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 9,560 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 7,465 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Astra
On a 2003 Astra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.8% 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 (12.2% 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 Astras pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 64,821 2003 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.8%).
Does the 2003 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,821 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.