2020 Skoda Citigo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 908 MOT tests, the 2020 Skoda Citigo recorded a 92.1% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 7.7%, so the 2020 Citigo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and lighting & signalling (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 22 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 48 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 26 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 3 | Washers | 7 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6 |
| 6 | Wipers | 6 |
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 | 19.1% | 173 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 85 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 723 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 161 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 297 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 294 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 313 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Citigo
On a 2020 Citigo, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.4% 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 2020 Skoda Citigos pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 908 2020 Skoda Citigo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Skoda Citigo?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2020 Citigo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 908 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.