2003 Vauxhall Vx220 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,479 MOT tests on the 2003 Vauxhall Vx220 are in this dataset, and 88.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Vx220 comes out 15.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 4.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 64 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 13.1% in the 90-120k band, a 5.7-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 13.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.8% in 2021 to 8.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 122 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 61 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 41 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.6% | 24 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 54 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 30 |
| 5 | Horn | 27 |
| 6 | Washers | 25 |
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 | 13.3% | 196 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.0% | 163 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 113 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 86 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.9% | 72 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 45 |
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 | 216 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 634 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 473 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 122 | 13.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 304 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 313 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 303 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 289 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 270 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Vx220
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.0% 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 Vx220s pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 1,479 2003 Vauxhall Vx220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Vx220?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.1%).
Does the 2003 Vx220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,479 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.