Used car guide

2003 Vauxhall Astra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Vauxhall Astras, from 5,836 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,836MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Vauxhall Astras than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Rigid brake pipes2× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    36.6% All 2003 cars
    18.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Shock absorbers2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    16.8% All 2003 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    18.1% All 2003 cars
    10.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Exhaust system1.7× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    16.1% All 2003 cars
    9.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes6.1× usual
    Vauxhall Astra
    6.1% All 2003 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.1% 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: 1.6% here, against 8.7% of all 2003 cars. Ball joint dust cover: 1.1% here, against 4.8% of all 2003 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    50% 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.

  • Brakes
    50% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    33% 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
    22% 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
    19% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,908Tyres 25%
20215,938Tyres 24%
20206,264Tyres 26%
201921,078Tyres 29%
201829,869Tyres 31%
201745,689Tyres 32%
201655,308Tyres 35%
201545,875Tyres 35%
201450,073Tyres 36%
201354,374Tyres 36%
201246,285Tyres 37%
201139,050Tyres 38%
201041,773Suspension 45%
200930,835Suspension 52%
200829,696Suspension 52%
200728,488Suspension 52%
200617,418Suspension 54%
200511,330Suspension 54%
20046,222Suspension 50%
20024,376Brakes 53%
20012,439Brakes 51%
20001,309Brakes 50%

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