2003 Citroen Saxo MOT pass rate: 63.7% (2,422 tests)
Is the 2003 Saxo getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
Scroll horizontally to read every trend column.
| Test year | Pass rate | Pass-rate bar |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.4% -1.1 vs same-age |
63.4% visual scale |
| 2024 | 63.8% -1.0 vs same-age |
63.8% visual scale |
| 2025 | 64.1% -2.0 vs same-age |
64.1% visual scale |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 Saxo
Scroll horizontally to read every failure column.
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 733 | 21.5% |
| 2 | Brakes | 684 | 20.1% |
| 3 | Body, chassis, structure | 511 | 15.0% |
| 4 | Suspension | 469 | 13.8% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 344 | 10.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 225 | 6.6% |
All Saxo years compared
Scroll horizontally to compare every registration-year column.
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,791 | 63.6% | -3.0 pts | 71,756 |
| 2002 | 2,824 | 61.7% | -4.0 pts | 71,512 |
| 2003 (this page) | 2,422 | 63.7% | -1.3 pts | 71,097 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
FAQs
Is a 2003 Citroen Saxo reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 63.7% of their MOT tests (2,422 tests, 2023–2025), -1.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 71,097 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Saxo?
The median tested example shows 71,097 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Before you agree to the work
A fault or an advisory is a quote waiting to happen. These pages set out what a garage has to tell you, what a comparable written quote should include, and what you can do if the bill is not what you agreed.
- When a repair costs more than the car — what a comparable quote should include, plus any verified UK figures we have sourced.
- Estimates, quotes and extra work — what a price has to cover, and when a garage may charge more than it first said.
- What a diagnostic test costs — what the fee should include, and when it should come off the repair.
- Tools — when to buy and when to skip — how to choose a diagnostic tool, and when a garage visit is cheaper than owning one.
- Choosing a garage you can check — what to verify before you hand over the keys.
- Your rights after a car repair — what to do when the work is not right, and how to put it in writing.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.