Vauxhall Combo (2003)
2003 Vauxhall Combo
CarHunch analysed 19,760 real MOT records for the 2003 Vauxhall Combo. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2003 Vauxhall Combo is a significantly weaker performer than the UK average, with just 65.3% passing first time compared to 80% across all vehicles — and nearly half of these vans (49.5%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious buyer concern. Diesel variants, which make up 94% of the market, fare no better than petrol at 65.2% pass rate, so fuel type won't help you dodge reliability issues.
These vans are racking up serious maintenance demands, with an average of 6.2 failures and 25.4 advisories per test, suggesting ongoing wear and repair costs mount quickly. At nearly 97,000 miles on average, most examples are well-worked, so budget for immediate repairs and expect to find multiple faults during your pre-purchase inspection — don't assume a recent MOT pass means the van is sound.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2003 Vauxhall Combo
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 49.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Vauxhall Combo
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (94%) | 18,542 | 65.2% | 6.27 |
| Petrol (4%) | 868 | 67% | 5.23 |
| LPG (2%) | 335 | 68.7% | 4.83 |
| Electric (0%) | 6 | 60.2% | 6 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 5 | 65.4% | 7.8 |
| Other (0%) | 3 | 70.5% | 6.67 |
| CNG (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Vauxhall Combo vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2003 Vauxhall Combo vehicles fall between 74,656 and 116,077 miles.
2003 Vauxhall Combo — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 1,016 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2003 Vauxhall Combo
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
84.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
84.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
77.6%
Oil leak
-
62.9%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
-
59.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
-
56.2%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
54.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
46.7%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Combo?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.