2003 Toyota Celica MOT pass rate: 64.6% (3,911 tests)
Is the 2003 Celica getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64.0% -0.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 65.4% +0.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 64.5% -1.7 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 Celica
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 995 | 21.0% |
| 2 | Suspension | 966 | 20.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 939 | 19.8% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 631 | 13.3% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 506 | 10.7% |
| 6 | Tyres | 294 | 6.2% |
All Celica years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,570 | 68.2% | +1.6 pts | 120,756 |
| 2002 | 3,019 | 68.4% | +2.7 pts | 116,594 |
| 2003 (this page) | 3,911 | 64.6% | -0.4 pts | 117,287 |
| 2004 | 4,366 | 65.4% | +1.0 pts | 115,000 |
| 2005 | 3,955 | 66.9% | +2.4 pts | 111,011 |
| 2006 | 2,836 | 68.5% | +4.1 pts | 102,472 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Toyota Celica reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 64.6% of their MOT tests (3,911 tests, 2023–2025), -0.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 117,287 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Celica?
The median tested example shows 117,287 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.