Used car guide

2003 Toyota Avensis: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Toyota Avensiss, from 1,569 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,569MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Toyota Avensiss than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm3.5× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    12.5% All 2003 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake pads1.9× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    12.5% All 2003 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Engine warning light2.7× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    6.9% All 2003 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 2.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Side repeaters2.7× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    4.6% All 2003 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Other suspension component2.4× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    2.9% All 2003 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.2% here, against 8.7% of all 2003 cars. Ball joint: 1.7% here, against 6.3% of all 2003 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    40% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    36% 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.

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Toyota Avensis?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20181,138Tyres 28%
20172,423Tyres 25%
20163,484Tyres 27%
20153,062Tyres 29%
20142,903Suspension 33%
20132,993Suspension 35%
20124,509Suspension 38%
20114,129Suspension 42%
20105,053Suspension 46%
20094,696Suspension 50%
20084,497Suspension 46%
20074,215Suspension 49%
20063,746Suspension 47%
20052,887Suspension 49%
20042,084Suspension 45%
2002679Brakes 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Toyota Avensiss registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score