2003 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 69,977 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Vauxhall Corsa, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 67.9% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.5% in the 150k+ group versus 24.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 11,286 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 11,016 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 9,423 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 8,412 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 5,429 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 4,215 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 5,940 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,084 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 4,810 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 4,787 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,786 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3,243 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.0% | 22,396 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.1% | 21,742 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 20,894 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.5% | 16,458 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.6% | 14,395 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 14,352 |
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 | 2,287 | 24.4% |
| 30-60k | 15,597 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 25,091 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 17,700 | 34.2% |
| 120-150k | 6,459 | 35.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,929 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 67,190 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 2,787 | 34.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,750 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 17,002 | 32.0% |
| 2023 | 13,221 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 9,894 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 7,110 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Corsa
Before buying a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.1% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
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 Corsas pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 69,977 2003 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.7%).
Does the 2003 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 0-30k band to 34.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,977 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.