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Vauxhall Omega B (1994-2003) reliability

Not enough data

Vauxhall Omega B built around 2003: not enough MOT data yet

We've only seen a handful of Vauxhall Omega Bs built around 2003 so far. Too few to spot a pattern yet.

Looking at a Vauxhall Omega B?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

Check a car’s number plate to see its own MOT record, or come back when there’s more MOT history.

Vauxhall Omega B
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate1994-2003SaloonPETROL

Based on 1,016 tests of Omega models registered 1994-2003.

B fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
12424.2%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
30025.7%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
20923.0%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
18224.2%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
20123.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 22 years old.

How the Omega B compares

At each age below, see how the Omega B holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 18,327 tests across 9 Vauxhall models, built around 2003 (22 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateVauxhall average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
12424.2%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
30025.7%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
20923.0%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
18224.2%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
20123.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Leaks

Worth checking

Inspect the leaks carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other saloons to compare

Other saloons, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Omega B.

  1. 1

    BMW 3 Series

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89.8%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Omega B on these figures.

    15 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    10,861 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  2. 2

    Lexus IS

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    28.6%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Omega B on these figures.

    2 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,214 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  3. 3

    Audi A4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    85%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Omega B on these figures.

    4 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,000 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  4. 4

    Mercedes-Benz C-Class

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.5%
    Dangerous
    6.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    86.7%

    No clear edge over the Vauxhall Omega B on these figures.

    8 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,596 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

2 recalls in all

1 of the 2 Omega B recalls covers cars built in these years.

  • 1 recall

Top concerns

  • 1) possible static sparking during refuelling (astra models only) 2) air bag system may not deploy

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on Omega B cars built around 2003

The share of petrol cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 309 cars.

Structural systems

Suspension
66%
Emissions
46%
Steering
10%
Bodywork
4%

Wear items

Tyres
55%
Lighting
50%
Brakes
41%

Rust, which the MOT calls corrosion: 17% of these cars show rust-related issues at this age.

Check the sills, subframe and brake pipes before you decide.

How Omega B cars have aged

How Omega B cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%1819202122232425Age at MOTBuilt around 2003, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 26.2% (507 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2003, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 23.9% (368 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2003, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 26.5% (302 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2003, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 26.5% (245 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2003, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 27.0% (196 tests, 2025 data)2003Built around 2002, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 25.9% (398 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2002, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 23.1% (295 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2002, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 24.2% (227 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2002, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 30.0% (190 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2002, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 23.6% (127 tests, 2025 data)2002Built around 2001, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 25.4% (338 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2001, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 24.6% (276 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2001, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 27.7% (220 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2001, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 24.5% (163 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2001, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 23.6% (148 tests, 2025 data)2001Built around 2000, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 23.7% (156 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2000, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 25.6% (125 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2000, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 26.0% (104 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2000, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 29.9% (87 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2000, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 25.0% (68 tests, 2025 data)2000Built around 1999, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 30.0% (90 tests, 2021 data)Built around 1999, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 26.2% (61 tests, 2022 data)Built around 1999, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 23.5% (51 tests, 2023 data)1999
First registered around 2003First registered around 2002First registered around 2001First registered around 2000
How each part holds up as B cars age

How each part holds up as B cars age

The share of petrol cars built pre-2005 that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Rates usually rise with age, but can dip slightly as cars leave the road.

Part of the car22 years23 years24 years
Suspension66%64%62%
Brakes41%40%46%
Emissions46%43%46%
Tyres55%52%53%
Lighting50%47%48%
Bodywork4%4%3%
Steering10%8%15%
Corrosion17%15%11%

Based on petrol cars in the pre-2005 build-year band, from 309 to 598 cars at each age.

B variants compared
All generations of this modelNot enough data

Most common issues on Vauxhall Omegas of this age

This list covers every Vauxhall Omega built around 2003, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the B on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    29.0%
    Advisory: 153Fail: 15 (9% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    24.3%
    Advisory: 73Fail: 2 (3% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    17.0%
    Advisory: 75Fail: 2 (3% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension mounting area corroded, but not seriously

    16.3%
    Advisory: 66Fail: 39 (37% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    15.7%
    Advisory: 69Fail: 4 (5% of the times it was found)

Based on 300 tests

Looking at a Vauxhall Omega B?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2003 (22 years old), the Vauxhall Omega B (1994-2003) fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 300 22-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 1,016 MOT tests on Vauxhall Omegas first registered between 1994-2003. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.