2003 Vauxhall Signum — MOT failures & pass rate
568 MOT tests on the 2003 Vauxhall Signum are in this dataset, and 70.3% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.5%) and suspension (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, rigid brake pipes and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 62 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.2% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 88 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 83 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 80 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 71 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.8% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 62 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 48 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 42 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 31 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 26 |
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 | 46.8% | 266 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.9% | 221 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.1% | 171 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 27.5% | 156 |
| 5 | Other defects | 25.0% | 142 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 123 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 41 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 36.7% |
| 150k+ | 142 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 286 | 26.6% |
| Diesel | 282 | 33.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 226 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 150 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 91 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 66 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 35 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Signum
On a 2003 Signum, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.5% 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.
- Suspension (14.6% 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 (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Signums pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 568 2003 Vauxhall Signum MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Signum?
Brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.6%).
Does the 2003 Signum get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 30-60k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 568 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.