2015 Skoda Citigo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 45,759 MOT tests, the 2015 Skoda Citigo recorded an 87.4% pass rate. That is 3.0 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and brakes (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,894 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.0% versus 8.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 2,873 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,751 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,663 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.2% | 1,465 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 929 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 923 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 1,894 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,553 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,455 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,329 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,047 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 866 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.5% | 11,206 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 6,417 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 3,330 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 2,946 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,237 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 484 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 12,613 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 22,387 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,630 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,703 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 315 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,974 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 9,035 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 9,180 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 9,266 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 9,304 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Citigo
On a 2015 Citigo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Skoda Citigos pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 45,759 2015 Skoda Citigo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Skoda Citigo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 2015 Citigo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,759 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.