2003 Honda Accord MOT pass rate: 63.9% (4,703 tests)
Is the 2003 Accord getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.5% -0.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 63.4% -1.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 64.9% -1.2 vs same-age |
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 Accord
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,717 | 26.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,571 | 24.5% |
| 3 | Brakes | 878 | 13.7% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 596 | 9.3% |
| 5 | Tyres | 458 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 446 | 7.0% |
All Accord years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,651 | 61.3% | -5.3 pts | 99,276 |
| 2002 | 1,710 | 60.5% | -5.1 pts | 97,187 |
| 2003 (this page) | 4,703 | 63.9% | -1.1 pts | 125,262 |
| 2004 | 7,374 | 65.0% | +0.7 pts | 129,532 |
| 2005 | 8,632 | 66.0% | +1.5 pts | 128,916 |
| 2006 | 8,375 | 66.7% | +2.3 pts | 133,005 |
| 2007 | 9,276 | 67.0% | +1.9 pts | 130,562 |
| 2008 | 8,498 | 70.2% | +5.1 pts | 127,469 |
| 2009 | 8,999 | 72.5% | +6.1 pts | 126,306 |
| 2010 | 3,728 | 75.7% | +8.4 pts | 121,371 |
| 2011 | 3,733 | 76.6% | +7.4 pts | 113,737 |
| 2012 | 3,449 | 77.6% | +6.4 pts | 104,124 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Honda Accord years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Honda Accord reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 63.9% of their MOT tests (4,703 tests, 2023–2025), -1.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 125,262 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Accord?
The median tested example shows 125,262 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.
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 OGL v3.0.