Used car guide

2003 Vauxhall Vectra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Vauxhall Vectras, from 498 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 498 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

498MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,900typical miles a year
5.2×the usual rate for steering rack inner joints

What stands out

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

  • Steering rack inner joints5.2× usual
    Vauxhall Vectra
    18.3% All 2003 cars
    3.5%

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

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame3.4× usual
    Vauxhall Vectra
    18.9% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Exhaust system2× usual
    Vauxhall Vectra
    19.1% All 2003 cars
    9.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, 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.

  • Individual direction indicators2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Vectra
    7.2% All 2003 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.4% 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.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    48% 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
    37% 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
    31% 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.

  • Steering
    24% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% 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.

Looking at a Vauxhall Vectra?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20091,270Suspension 53%
20087,050Suspension 53%
20076,118Suspension 52%
20063,176Suspension 52%
20051,456Suspension 57%
2004897Suspension 59%
2002448Brakes 49%
2001488Brakes 47%
2000290Brakes 40%
1999206Brakes 48%
1998151Suspension 35%

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