Used car guide

2003 Honda S2000: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda S2000 first registered in 2003: we looked at the 1,853 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,853MOTs of 2003 cars, done in 2023–2025
78%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)
4,000typical miles a year
6×the usual rate for anti-roll bar links

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Honda S2000?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Honda S2000 than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Anti-roll bar links6× usual
    Honda S2000
    2.4% All 2003 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.5% here, against 18.8% of all 2003 cars. Headlights: 3.7% here, against 11.8% of all 2003 cars.

Common 2003 Honda S2000 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Honda S2000 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    23% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    21% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    18% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    14% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    7% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Honda S2000

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar links? (Flagged at MOT 6× as often on the 2003 Honda S2000 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda S2000?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda S2000 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20091,010Tyres 17%
2008832Suspension 14%
20071,391Tyres 18%
20061,617Brakes 19%
20052,091Suspension 18%
20042,045Brakes 21%
20021,835Suspension 20%
2001673Brakes 26%
2000946Brakes 23%
1999435Brakes 23%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda S2000 cars first registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score