2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol than on all cars registered in 2003.

• Steering rack inner joints5.5× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  18.6% All 2003 cars

  3.4%

  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.

• Exhaust system2.1× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  21.2% All 2003 cars

  10%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.9% 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.

• Sub-frame3.3× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  15.2% All 2003 cars

  4.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, 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.

• Handbrake performance3.3× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  3.9% All 2003 cars

  1.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.2% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

  At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Common 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

• Suspension
  54% 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
  49% 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
  32% 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.

• Exhaust and emissions
  23% 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 an engine warning light.

Known faults on the 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Rear axle stub recall

  All engines

  Some cars were recalled because a rear axle stub might not meet spec.

  At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg.

  Source: What Car?: Vauxhall Vectra (2002-2009) reliability

• Suspension clonks

  All engines

  Clonks from the suspension can be heard on some cars.

  At the viewing: Listen over bumps and pick a car without clonks.

  Source: What Car?: Vauxhall Vectra (2002-2009) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol

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

1. Has the rear axle recall been done?
2. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.5× as often on the 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2003 Vauxhall Vectra petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?