Most Reliable Skoda Models: Real MOT Data Analysis
We analysed 764,629 real UK MOT tests to reveal which Skoda models pass most often, which years to buy, and which to avoid entirely.
764,629 MOT tests analysed
Real DVSA data covering every Skoda model from 2000-2023
Key Findings
Most Reliable Model
Skoda KAMIQ SE L TSI
90.8% pass rate
Best Single Year
YETI 2013 Petrol
82.7% pass rate
Skoda vs National Average
76.7% vs 71.5%
+5.2% above average
Proven Durability Champion
CITIGO 2012
+15.0% at 11-12 years
Skoda has built its reputation on reliability, but does the data back it up? We analysed 764,629 real MOT tests from the DVSA database to find out exactly which Skoda models live up to the hype and which ones fall short.
This isn't survey data or owner opinions. These are actual pass/fail results from UK garages, covering every Skoda model sold in the UK from 2000 to 2023.
How Skoda Compares to Rivals
Skoda ranks #28 out of 75 manufacturers with a 76.7% average MOT pass rate. That's above the national average of 71.5%:
| Manufacturer | Pass Rate | Rank | Tests Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skoda | 76.7% | #28 | 764,629 |
| Kia | 73.9% | #32 | 886,213 |
| Seat | 73.8% | #33 | 544,899 |
| Hyundai | 73.3% | #34 | 858,542 |
| Volkswagen | 72.2% | #43 | 2,967,545 |
| Ford | 68.5% | #51 | 4,432,652 |
The verdict: Skoda leads its competitors with a 76.7% pass rate. However, newer Skoda models significantly outperform this average.
Best Skoda Models by MOT Pass Rate
Looking at overall reliability across all years, here's how Skoda's core models rank against the 71.5% national average:
| Model | Pass Rate | vs National (71.5%) | Tests | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAMIQ SE L TSI | 90.8% | +19.3% | 3,687 | 2019-2020 |
| KAROQ | 90.3% | +18.7% | 41,589 | 2018-2021 |
| KAMIQ SE TSI | 90.1% | +18.6% | 3,357 | 2019-2020 |
| SCALA | 89.3% | +17.8% | 4,842 | 2019-2021 |
| KODIAQ | 89.3% | +17.8% | 30,145 | 2017-2021 |
| CITIGO | 81.5% | +9.9% | 52,423 | 2012-2020 |
| YETI | 79.0% | +7.5% | 76,330 | 2009-2017 |
| SUPERB | 78.6% | +7.1% | 62,010 | 2004-2022 |
| OCTAVIA | 75.7% | +4.2% | 205,894 | 2000-2021 |
| RAPID | 75.6% | +4.1% | 22,799 | 2012-2019 |
Top performer
The KAMIQ SE L TSI dramatically outperforms other Skodas with an 90.8% pass rate, putting it among the most reliable cars in the database.
Proven Durability Champions: Which Skoda Models Age Best?
These Skoda models have proven their durability with 11+ years of real-world MOT data. They're compared against the national average for cars of the same age:
High-confidence data: Only vehicles with 11+ years of MOT history and 500+ tests are included in this ranking.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITIGO | 2012 | Petrol | +15.0% | 11-12 years | 77.8% |
| YETI | 2012 | Petrol | +13.8% | 11-12 years | 76.7% |
| YETI | 2011 | Petrol | +11.7% | 11-12 years | 74.6% |
| FABIA | 2012 | Petrol | +9.2% | 11-12 years | 72.1% |
| OCTAVIA | 2009 | Petrol | +9.2% | 13+ years | 66.5% |
| YETI | 2010 | Petrol | +9.1% | 13+ years | 66.4% |
| OCTAVIA | 2010 | Petrol | +8.7% | 13+ years | 66.0% |
| FABIA | 2011 | Petrol | +8.5% | 11-12 years | 71.3% |
| ROOMSTER | 2011 | Petrol | +8.3% | 11-12 years | 71.1% |
| FABIA | 2010 | Petrol | +7.4% | 13+ years | 64.7% |
How to read this: A score of "+15%" means the model passes MOTs 15 percentage points more often than the average car of the same age. These are proven results from vehicles that have genuinely aged well.
Proven durability champion
The CITIGO 2012 outperforms the average 11-12 years-old car by 15 percentage points, with 1,088 MOT tests proving its reliability.
Early Performers: Strong Start, Unproven Durability
These newer Skoda models (3-6 years old) show strong early results, but haven't yet proven long-term durability:
Important caveat: Durability NOT yet proven - these vehicles have not been tested at older ages. Older versions of the same model may tell a different story at 11+ years.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KODIAQ | 2018 | Petrol | +7.6% | 5-6 years | 88.8% |
| KODIAQ | 2017 | Petrol | +7.2% | 5-6 years | 88.5% |
| SUPERB | 2017 | Petrol | +7.2% | 5-6 years | 88.4% |
| KAROQ | 2018 | Petrol | +7.1% | 5-6 years | 88.3% |
| KODIAQ | 2018 | Diesel | +6.7% | 5-6 years | 87.9% |
| KODIAQ | 2017 | Diesel | +6.5% | 5-6 years | 87.7% |
| OCTAVIA | 2016 | Petrol | +6.5% | 5-6 years | 87.7% |
| KAROQ | 2019 | Petrol | +6.3% | 3-4 years | 92.1% |
What this means: These models are performing well in their early years, but we recommend checking the Durability Champions section above to see how older versions of the same model family have fared over time.
Skoda OCTAVIA: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The OCTAVIA has 205,894 tests in our database with an overall 75.7% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hybrid Electric | 97.3% | +6.5% | 113 |
| 2021 | Diesel | 96.3% | +5.5% | 109 |
| 2021 | Petrol | 94.7% | +3.8% | 113 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 90.9% | +3.3% | 8,182 |
| 2020 | Diesel | 86.6% | -1.1% | 3,672 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 89.8% | +3.6% | 11,111 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 83.9% | -2.3% | 9,079 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 89.1% | +4.8% | 9,387 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 85.2% | +1.0% | 7,355 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 87.0% | +5.3% | 7,778 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 83.0% | +1.3% | 10,778 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 86.2% | +7.5% | 5,787 |
| ... | ||||
| 2008 | Petrol | 58.6% | +1.2% | 1,157 |
| 2008 | Diesel | 57.9% | +0.6% | 5,088 |
| 2007 | Diesel | 56.1% | -0.9% | 5,133 |
OCTAVIA verdict: The 2021 hybrid electric model achieves an excellent 97.3% pass rate. Avoid the 2008 petrol (58.6%).
Avoid early OCTAVIA models
The 2008 petrol OCTAVIA has a 58.6% pass rate, failing MOTs more often than passing.
Skoda YETI: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The YETI has 76,330 tests in our database with an overall 79.0% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Diesel | 86.4% | +4.7% | 3,700 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 85.5% | +3.8% | 7,520 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 84.5% | +5.8% | 7,718 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 82.8% | +4.2% | 5,479 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 83.0% | +7.5% | 5,496 |
| 2015 | Diesel | 79.2% | +3.8% | 7,230 |
| 2014 | Petrol | 83.3% | +11.6% | 4,314 |
| 2014 | Diesel | 77.7% | +6.0% | 8,018 |
| 2013 | Petrol | 82.7% | +14.4% | 2,651 |
| 2013 | Diesel | 75.9% | +7.6% | 7,680 |
| 2012 | Petrol | 77.9% | +12.2% | 1,804 |
| 2012 | Diesel | 69.8% | +4.1% | 5,005 |
YETI verdict:
Skoda SUPERB: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The SUPERB has 62,010 tests in our database with an overall 78.6% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Diesel | 94.3% | +1.5% | 177 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 87.8% | +0.1% | 1,662 |
| 2020 | Diesel | 84.9% | -2.7% | 2,059 |
| 2020 | Hybrid Electric | 83.3% | -4.3% | 1,225 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 87.8% | +1.6% | 2,779 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 82.8% | -3.5% | 4,138 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 87.6% | +3.4% | 2,313 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 82.8% | -1.5% | 5,329 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 88.4% | +6.7% | 1,995 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 82.7% | +1.0% | 7,366 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 85.5% | +6.8% | 1,452 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 81.7% | +3.0% | 7,033 |
| ... | ||||
| 2007 | Diesel | 56.1% | -0.9% | 230 |
| 2006 | Diesel | 59.1% | +2.9% | 181 |
SUPERB verdict: The 2022 diesel model achieves an excellent 94.3% pass rate. Avoid the 2007 diesel (56.1%).
Avoid early SUPERB models
The 2007 diesel SUPERB has a 56.1% pass rate, failing MOTs more often than passing.
Skoda CITIGO: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The CITIGO has 52,423 tests in our database with an overall 81.5% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Electric | 89.1% | +1.4% | 220 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 91.9% | +5.7% | 4,568 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 85.6% | +1.4% | 5,402 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 83.2% | +1.5% | 6,294 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 78.0% | -0.7% | 7,824 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 80.2% | +4.7% | 8,108 |
| 2014 | Petrol | 79.5% | +7.8% | 9,161 |
| 2013 | Petrol | 79.4% | +11.1% | 7,060 |
| 2012 | Petrol | 78.0% | +12.4% | 3,786 |
CITIGO verdict:
Skoda Hybrids vs Petrol vs Diesel
Skoda's fuel type comparison shows clear differences in reliability:
| Fuel Type | Average Pass Rate | vs National | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 92.6% | +21.1% | 675 |
| Hybrid Electric | 84.5% | +13.0% | 1,338 |
| Petrol | 79.2% | +7.7% | 439,106 |
| Diesel | 73.0% | +1.5% | 318,414 |
The hybrid advantage: Skoda hybrids pass MOTs 5% more often than petrols and 12% more often than diesels.
Skoda Models to Avoid
Not all Skodas are reliable. These specific model/year combinations have failure rates well above average:
| Model | Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROOMSTER | 2007 | Diesel | 47.2% (-12.6% vs same-age) | 1,410 |
| ROOMSTER | 2009 | Diesel | 50.7% (-9.2% vs same-age) | 647 |
| ROOMSTER | 2008 | Diesel | 49.2% (-10.7% vs same-age) | 1,248 |
| RAPID | 2016 | Diesel | 70.8% (-9.3% vs same-age) | 1,680 |
| FABIA | 2004 | Petrol | 48.2% (-11.6% vs same-age) | 3,151 |
| FABIA | 2009 | Diesel | 51.5% | 4,375 |
| FABIA | 2002 | Diesel | 50.1% (-9.8% vs same-age) | 842 |
| RAPID | 2017 | Diesel | 74.5% | 1,015 |
| FABIA | 2008 | Diesel | 51.2% (-8.7% vs same-age) | 4,684 |
| FABIA | 2003 | Petrol | 50.6% (-9.2% vs same-age) | 2,526 |
Pattern to avoid
Early 2007-2009 diesel ROOMSTERs, 2016-2017 diesel RAPIDs, 2002-2009 petrol/diesel FABIAs are the models that drag down Skoda's average. The ROOMSTER 2007 performs 10% worse than the average car of the same age at 13+ years - this is proven poor durability. These vehicles fail MOTs more often than they pass.
What Goes Wrong on Skodas?
When Skodas fail MOTs, these are the most common causes:
| Failure Category | Total Failures |
|---|---|
| 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 60,872 |
| 2. Suspension | 54,601 |
| 3. Tyres | 43,941 |
| 4. Brakes | 41,585 |
| 5. Visibility | 22,984 |
| 6. Body, chassis, structure | 19,715 |
| 7. Noise, emissions and leaks | 18,794 |
Pre-MOT checklist for Skoda owners:
- Check all bulbs (number plate lights are commonly missed)
- Inspect suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links
- Ensure tyres meet 1.6mm tread requirement
- Check brake pad thickness and disc condition
- Clean windscreen and check wiper blade condition
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Buying Recommendations
Best If Buying Nearly New
2019-2023 models with highest early pass rates
- Limited data for recent models
Note: Long-term durability not yet proven for these newer models
Best If Buying Used (Proven)
11+ years of proven durability data
- CITIGO 2012: +15% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- YETI 2010-2012: +10% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- FABIA 2010-2012: +8% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- OCTAVIA 2009-2010: +8% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
Skoda Models to Avoid (Proven Poor)
Proven below average at 11+ years - not just old, genuinely problematic
- ROOMSTER 2007-2009: -8% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 13+ years)
- FABIA 2002-2009: -7% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 13+ years)
About This Data
This analysis uses real MOT test results from the DVSA database, covering 764,629 tests on Skoda vehicles between 2000 and 2023.
Year-Adjusted Scoring (v2.1): In year-by-year breakdowns, each vehicle is compared against the national average for vehicles of the same model year. This removes the natural bias where newer cars pass more often, allowing fair comparisons across eras.
Evidence-Tiered Durability: We separate "proven durability" (vehicles tested at 11+ years old) from "early performers" (3-6 years old). Only vehicles with proven long-term data are used for durability claims. Age-band comparisons use weighted national averages.
Minimum thresholds: 500 tests for proven durability rankings, 1,000 tests for early performer rankings. Pass rates are calculated as first-time passes, excluding retests.
The overall national average MOT pass rate is 71.51% based on 32.3 million tests across all manufacturers. Year-specific averages range from ~59% (2009 vehicles) to ~88% (2020 vehicles).
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