At a Glance
Skoda has 107 identified common problems across 20 models, with the Favorit being the most affected model and suspension the most common problem category. Based on 8.9M MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we identify common car problems →
Below: per-model breakdowns of Skoda common problems, MOT failure rates by category, pass-rate data, and repair patterns drawn from 8.9M DVSA MOT tests across 20 years. Click any model to see generation-specific issues, mileage-banded fault patterns, and the most common MOT failures recorded by UK testers.
MOT Tests & Failures by Model
Top Skoda models by MOT tests, failures, and identified problems from DVSA data
Hover over each bar for a full breakdown. Tap any bar to view that model's problems.
Showing total MOT tests, failures, and known problems per make. Hover over each bar for a full breakdown.
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Skoda Common Problems by Model
Select a model to see problems by generation
Showing top 9 by MOT test volume — search to find any of 20 Skoda models.
Fabia
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Octavia
Most common: Suspension
Yeti
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Superb
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Felicia
Most common: Brakes
Citigo
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Roomster
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Rapid
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Karoq
Most common: Tyres & Wheels
Most Common Skoda MOT Failures
Every reason Skoda vehicles fail their MOT, ranked by frequency. Select an individual year to see only that year’s failures, or stay on ‘All time’ for the combined picture across our 20 years of DVSA data. Scroll inside the table for the full list.
| # | Failure | % of failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension joint or bush worn | 9.16% |
| 2 | Tyre tread depth below limit | 7.95% |
| 3 | Tyre condition | 7.69% |
| 4 | Wiper blades deteriorated | 6.41% |
| 5 | Brake performance below minimum | 5.55% |
| 6 | Stop lamp not working | 4.85% |
| 7 | Number plate lamp not working | 4.72% |
| 8 | Driveshaft fault | 4.57% |
| 9 | Coil spring broken or corroded | 3.91% |
| 10 | Brake pads or linings worn | 3.01% |
| 11 | Front lamp not working | 2.61% |
| 12 | Windscreen washer not working | 2.53% |
| 13 | Position lamp not working | 2.38% |
| 14 | Ball joint dust cover split | 2.30% |
| 15 | Headlamp aim defect | 2.22% |
| 16 | Shock absorber worn or leaking | 2.15% |
| 17 | Headlamp fault | 2.06% |
| 18 | Exhaust system fault | 1.96% |
| 19 | Brake disc or drum worn | 1.83% |
| 20 | Track rod end worn | 1.73% |
| 21 | Spark ignition emissions above threshold | 1.69% |
| 22 | Parking brake performance below minimum | 1.55% |
| 23 | Brake hydraulic component worn | 1.16% |
| 24 | Windscreen damage affecting view | 1.10% |
| 25 | Catalytic converter efficiency low | 1.04% |
| 26 | Indicator fault | 0.85% |
| 27 | Parking brake condition | 0.80% |
| 28 | Airbag warning light on | 0.79% |
| 29 | Compression ignition emissions above threshold | 0.69% |
| 30 | Rear lamp not working | 0.64% |
| 31 | ABS fault | 0.62% |
| 32 | Seat belt condition | 0.54% |
| 33 | Front suspension joint worn | 0.53% |
| 34 | Front suspension fault | 0.47% |
| 35 | Mirror damaged or missing | 0.42% |
| 36 | Wheel bearing worn | 0.42% |
| 37 | Flexible brake hose damaged | 0.40% |
| 38 | Steering rack fault | 0.39% |
| 39 | Brake lever fault | 0.36% |
| 40 | Fog lamp not working | 0.34% |
| 41 | Horn not working | 0.27% |
| 42 | Suspension mounting corroded | 0.24% |
| 43 | Tyre pressure monitoring system fault | 0.24% |
| 44 | Tyre size or type not matched | 0.24% |
| 45 | Rear fog lamp not working | 0.23% |
| 46 | Handbrake lever fault | 0.21% |
| 47 | Rear suspension fault | 0.19% |
| 48 | Brake pedal movement restricted | 0.18% |
| 49 | Battery loose or leaking | 0.17% |
| 50 | Suspension arm worn or corroded | 0.15% |
| 51 | Electronic stability control fault | 0.15% |
| 52 | MacPherson strut worn | 0.15% |
| 53 | Body corrosion or damage | 0.15% |
| 54 | Rear reflector damaged or missing | 0.14% |
| 55 | Brake fluid leak | 0.14% |
| 56 | Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged | 0.14% |
| 57 | Brake caliper fault | 0.13% |
| 58 | Headlamp levelling device fault | 0.12% |
| 59 | Suspension linkage fault | 0.11% |
| 60 | Fuel cap damaged or missing | 0.10% |
| 61 | Brake pedal fault | 0.09% |
| 62 | Bonded suspension condition | 0.08% |
| 63 | Steering arm worn | 0.07% |
| 64 | Engine oil leak | 0.07% |
| 65 | Front passenger door fault | 0.07% |
| 66 | Vehicle structure corrosion | 0.07% |
| 67 | Brake cable, rod, lever or linkage fault | 0.06% |
| 68 | Electrical switch fault | 0.06% |
| 69 | Bonnet catch or hinge fault | 0.06% |
| 70 | Chassis condition | 0.06% |
| 71 | Steering free play excessive | 0.06% |
| 72 | Propshaft fault | 0.06% |
| 73 | Reversing lamp not working | 0.06% |
| 74 | Brake fluid level low or contaminated | 0.06% |
| 75 | Tyre valve stem damaged | 0.05% |
| 76 | Hydraulic brake cylinder fault | 0.05% |
| 77 | Undertray damaged or missing | 0.04% |
| 78 | Anti-roll bar worn or corroded | 0.04% |
| 79 | Electrical wiring fault | 0.04% |
| 80 | Bumper damaged or insecure | 0.04% |
| 81 | Drag link end worn | 0.04% |
| 82 | Driver airbag fault | 0.04% |
| 83 | Spring mounting corroded | 0.04% |
| 84 | Power steering pipe or hose leaking | 0.04% |
| 85 | Dashboard warning lamp fault | 0.03% |
| 86 | Brake wheel cylinder fault | 0.03% |
| 87 | Subframe corrosion or damage | 0.03% |
| 88 | Steering operation fault | 0.03% |
| 89 | Headlamp washer not working | 0.03% |
| 90 | Handbrake cable fault | 0.03% |
| 91 | Electric power steering fault | 0.03% |
| 92 | Passenger seat fault | 0.03% |
| 93 | Fuel pipe corroded or damaged | 0.03% |
| 94 | Driver door fault | 0.03% |
| 95 | Subframe mounting corroded | 0.03% |
| 96 | Brake air or vacuum system fault | 0.02% |
| 97 | Brake servo fault | 0.02% |
| 98 | Driver seat fault | 0.02% |
| 99 | Brake fluid reservoir fault | 0.02% |
| 100 | Engine mounting worn or broken | 0.02% |
| 101 | Power steering ram fault | 0.02% |
| 102 | Brake fluid warning light on | 0.02% |
| 103 | King pin or swivel pin worn | 0.02% |
| 104 | Steering lock fault | 0.01% |
| 105 | Boot lid damaged or insecure | 0.01% |
| 106 | Suspension unit fault | 0.01% |
| 107 | Body security fault | 0.01% |
| 108 | Brake back plate corroded or damaged | 0.01% |
| 109 | Exhaust leak | 0.01% |
| 110 | Fuel hose damaged or leaking | 0.01% |
| 111 | Brake valve fault | 0.01% |
| 112 | Front fog lamp not working | 0.01% |
| 113 | Fuel tank corroded or leaking | 0.01% |
| 114 | Hydraulic fluid leak | <0.01% |
| 115 | Load sensing valve fault | <0.01% |
| 116 | Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst) | <0.01% |
| 117 | Suspension retaining or locking device fault | <0.01% |
| 118 | Towbar fault | <0.01% |
| 119 | Window damaged or won't operate | <0.01% |
| 120 | Rear fog lamp warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 121 | Steering wheel damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 122 | Mirror or camera fault | <0.01% |
| 123 | Brake pressure or vacuum buildup insufficient | <0.01% |
| 124 | Steering column fault | <0.01% |
| 125 | Tailgate damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 126 | Speedometer fault | <0.01% |
| 127 | Daytime running lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 128 | Passenger airbag fault | <0.01% |
| 129 | Dip switch fault | <0.01% |
| 130 | Power steering pump fault | <0.01% |
| 131 | Electronic braking system fault | <0.01% |
| 132 | CV joint worn | <0.01% |
| 133 | Steering drive system fault | <0.01% |
| 134 | Brake master cylinder fault | <0.01% |
| 135 | Tie bar or rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 136 | Main beam warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 137 | Axle corroded or damaged | <0.01% |
| 138 | Transmission oil leak | <0.01% |
| 139 | Indicator warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 140 | Electronic parking brake fault | <0.01% |
| 141 | Exhaust heat shield or sound insulation damaged | <0.01% |
| 142 | Full power hydraulic brake fault | <0.01% |
| 143 | Additional braking device fault | <0.01% |
| 144 | Reversing lamp switch fault | <0.01% |
| 145 | Seat belt or padding damaged | <0.01% |
| 146 | Steering shaft fault | <0.01% |
| 147 | Vehicle floor corroded | <0.01% |
| 148 | Outline marker lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 149 | Suspension linkage attachment bracket or mounting corroded | <0.01% |
| 150 | Steering coupling worn | <0.01% |
| 151 | Semaphore indicator fault | <0.01% |
| 152 | Spare wheel fault | <0.01% |
| 153 | Seat belt pre-tensioner fault | <0.01% |
| 154 | Seat belt anchorage fault | <0.01% |
| 155 | Trailing arm worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 156 | Torsion bar worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 157 | Suspension rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 158 | Axle beam corroded or cracked | <0.01% |
| 159 | Steering box fault | <0.01% |
| 160 | Brake relay lever fault | <0.01% |
| 161 | Access panel damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 162 | Transmission drive belt fault | <0.01% |
| 163 | Suspension coupling worn | <0.01% |
| 164 | Handbrake mechanism or mounting fault | <0.01% |
| 165 | Body strengthening plate corroded | <0.01% |
| 166 | Brake master cylinder or servo mounting fault | <0.01% |
| 167 | Hazard warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 168 | Halfshaft fault | <0.01% |
| 169 | Wheel hub fault | <0.01% |
| 170 | Air brake cylinder or actuator fault | <0.01% |
| 171 | Loading door damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 172 | Leaf spring broken or corroded | <0.01% |
| 173 | Steering intermediate drop arm worn | <0.01% |
| 174 | Stub axle worn | <0.01% |
| 175 | Steering lock stop fault | <0.01% |
| 176 | Brake linkage mounting fault | <0.01% |
| 177 | Hand-operated brake valve condition | <0.01% |
| 178 | Brake slack adjuster fault | <0.01% |
| 179 | Steering damper fault | <0.01% |
| 180 | Seat belt load limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 181 | Passenger compartment corrosion | <0.01% |
| 182 | Radius arm worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 183 | Universal joint worn | <0.01% |
| 184 | Hinged tailboard damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 185 | Air suspension levelling valve fault | <0.01% |
| 186 | Brake stationary pin worn | <0.01% |
| 187 | Brake pedal linkage fault | <0.01% |
| 188 | Speed limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 189 | Brake clevis joint worn | <0.01% |
| 190 | Hydraulic suspension accumulator fault | <0.01% |
| 191 | Step damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 192 | Torque or reaction arm worn | <0.01% |
| 193 | Cab corrosion or damage | <0.01% |
| 194 | Handbrake fails on gradient | <0.01% |
| 195 | Spring saddle corroded | <0.01% |
| 196 | Dropside damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 197 | Footrest damaged or missing | <0.01% |
| 198 | Passenger hand grip fault | <0.01% |
| 199 | Securing bolts missing or insecure | <0.01% |
| 200 | Steering head bearings worn | <0.01% |
Showing all 200 reasons — scroll inside the table for the full list.
Skoda MOT Failures by Category
Total MOT failure occurrences for Skoda, grouped by category. Same data as the failures table above — just sliced by category instead of fault title. Hover a slice for the top failures in each category.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Skoda problems?
Based on analysis of 8.9M Skoda MOT tests from DVSA data, Skoda has 107 identified common problems across 20 models. The Skoda Favorit has the most recorded problems. Suspension issues are the most common category.
Which Skoda model has the most problems?
By total identified common problems, the Skoda Favorit has the highest count with 50 problems. This is partly because it is one of the more popular Skoda models on UK roads. See the models grid for a full breakdown.
How is this data calculated?
We analyse anonymised DVSA MOT test records under the Open Government Licence. An issue is classified as a "Common Problem" when it occurs significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read the full methodology page for details.
Can I report a problem with my Skoda?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Skoda owners spot problems early. We review all submissions before they are published.
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