Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Toyota Yaris?

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 Toyota Yaris?

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 Toyota Yaris?

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 Toyota Yaris vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% 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 Toyota Yaris reliable?

Based on MOT data from 37,174 vehicles, the 2003 Toyota Yaris has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Toyota Yaris?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Toyota Yaris are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (70.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.4% 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 Toyota Yaris?

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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Toyota Yaris (2003)

37,174 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.6% first-time pass rate

2003 Toyota Yaris

CarHunch analysed 37,174 real MOT records for the 2003 Toyota Yaris. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Toyota Yaris has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.6%, which is below the UK average of 80% and suggests these cars are hitting their mechanical limits by this age. More concerning, 35.8% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and a real red flag for potential buyers.

At a median mileage of 62,831 miles for a 21-year-old car, these Yaris examples have been relatively lightly used, yet they're still racking up an average of 5 failures and 27 advisories per MOT—pointing to cumulative wear rather than a single critical problem. Before purchasing, get a pre-buy inspection that specifically checks the brakes, suspension, and steering components, since these are the systems most likely to show dangerous defects on this generation.

The 2003 Toyota Yaris has a decent first-time pass rate (75.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.09

Over 19.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 47k–79k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 27.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 37,174 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 37,174 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 76.7%

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.

Suspension & steering 43.1%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Brake wear 39.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel

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

Wipers & washers 27.1%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 37,174 Toyota Yaris cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Toyota Yaris

Based on MOT data from 37,174 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.8% 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 (93%)	34,578	75.5%	5.13
Diesel (7%)	2,533	76.5%	4.66
Other (0%)	59	74.1%	1.56

Colour Breakdown

Based on 625,609 Toyota Yaris vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.3%

164,789

Red 20%

125,121

Blue 17.2%

107,296

Black 10.2%

63,916

Grey 10%

62,531

White 8.9%

55,382

Green 3.5%

21,882

Turquoise 1.2%

7,303

Bronze 1%

6,441

Gold 1%

5,961

Beige 0.7%

4,196

Orange 0.1%

791

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Toyota Yaris 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.

62,831

typical

47,468

low mileage

78,523

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Toyota Yaris vehicles fall between 47,468 and 78,523 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,468 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.

✓ 47,468–78,523 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Toyota Yariss sit.

⚠ Over 106,006 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Toyota Yaris — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 2003 Toyota Yariss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 9,246 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% 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

19.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.09

Avg failures per vehicle

27.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Yaris: All Yaris years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Toyota Yaris stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing