Skoda common problems and MOT failures

From 1,190,788 MOT tests in 2024, 15.7% of Skoda vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Skoda MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	33,315	20.1%
2	tyre seriously damaged	23,991	14.5%
3	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	18,707	11.3%
4	suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	14,530	8.8%
5	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	13,946	8.4%
6	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	12,998	7.8%
7	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	12,991	7.8%
8	tyre cords visible or damaged	12,960	7.8%
9	transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	11,308	6.8%
10	significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake	11,249	6.8%

What this means if you're buying a Skoda

The single most common MOT failure for Skoda is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 20% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.

These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Skoda vehicles. If you're viewing a used Skoda, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Skoda models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
Roomster	28,325	77.3%
Fabia	359,982	80.6%
Rapid	33,623	82.6%
Octavia	288,657	83.3%
Yeti	104,117	84.2%
Superb	93,726	84.7%
Citigo	70,144	87.2%
Scala	10,204	91.2%
Kodiaq	55,902	91.8%
Karoq	70,498	92.8%

Buying a specific Skoda? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK