Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Renault Avantime?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2003 Renault Avantime?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2003 Renault Avantime?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2003 Renault Avantime vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2003 Renault Avantime reliable?

Based on MOT data from 130 vehicles, the 2003 Renault Avantime has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Renault Avantime?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Renault Avantime are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (105% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (83.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (79.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Renault Avantime?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Renault Avantime (2003)

130 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.7% first-time pass rate

2003 Renault Avantime

CarHunch analysed 130 real MOT records for the 2003 Renault Avantime. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2003 Renault Avantime has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.7%, which is significantly below the UK average of 80%—a red flag for buyers. More concerning, 42.3% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, well above what you'd typically expect and a serious indicator of structural or safety issues.

At an average mileage of 76,773 miles, these cars have covered relatively low distance for their age, yet they're averaging 5.67 failures per test and a concerning 28.7 advisories, suggesting fundamental reliability problems rather than just wear-and-tear. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, braking, and structural integrity—this model's dangerous defect rate means you need to be extremely thorough.

We have limited data for the 2003 Renault Avantime — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

69.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

42.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.67

Over 18 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

74k

Middle half: 61k–92k

For context

These stats describe 130 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 130 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 105%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 83.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 54.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Suspension & steering 44.3%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Offside Rear coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 130 Renault Avantime cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Renault Avantime

Based on MOT data from 130 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (95%)	124	69.5%	5.69

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Renault Avantime vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

74,152

typical

61,251

low mileage

92,201

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Renault Avantime vehicles fall between 61,251 and 92,201 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,251 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 61,251–92,201 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Renault Avantimes sit.

⚠ Over 124,471 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Renault Avantime — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 44% of 2003 Renault Avantimes are still active.

Numbers are declining — 40 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (44% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.67

Avg failures per vehicle

28.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Avantime: All Avantime years → Which year to buy? →

2002

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Renault Avantime stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on