2003 Toyota Celica · 4,821 MOT tests
2003 Toyota Celica reliability
2003 Toyota Celicas fail 41% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 5 of 9 Celica years (4,821 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Toyota Celicas: 39.4%)
- 41%
- first-time fail rate (all Toyota Celicas: 39.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 8% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 19
- 116,829
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 19
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 4,821
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2003 against the years either side
- 2002 cars: 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2003 car does worse)
- 2004 cars: 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2003 car does better)
- Weak spot: exhaust, emissions and leaks, 11.7% of tests fail here (50% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: windscreen, wipers and mirrors, 35% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2003 car carries a 52 plate (January–February 2003), or a 03 plate (March–August 2003), or a 53 plate (September–December 2003).
Common problems
What fails on a 2003 Toyota Celica
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics20.5%
- Suspension15.1%
- Brakes13.5%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks11.7%
- Body, chassis and structure8.9%
- Tyres5.3%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 5.62%
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Position lamp not working 4.79%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 4.54%
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
Lambda reading outside specified limits 3.86%
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.67%
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.57%
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Common advisories
Tyre worn close to legal limit (12.55%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (12.24%) · Brake pipes corroded and greasy (12.13%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (11.37%) · Coil spring showing some corrosion (9.69%) · Tyre slightly damaged or cracking (8.42%)
Other years
Every Toyota Celica year
The full picture: Toyota Celica reliability. Before you pay for any Toyota Celica, a Full Check (£9.99) shows finance, stolen and write-off records the MOT can't.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2003 Toyota Celica reliable?
2003 Toyota Celicas fail 41% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 5 of 9 Celica years (4,821 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2003 Toyota Celica MOT?
Most often headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (5.62% of tests), position lamp not working (4.79% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (4.54% of tests).
How many miles should a 2003 Toyota Celica have done?
At its MOT aged about 19, a typical 2003 Toyota Celica shows 116,829 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2003 car?
A car first registered in 2003 carries a 52 plate (January–February 2003), or a 03 plate (March–August 2003), or a 53 plate (September–December 2003).
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