1996 Skoda Felicia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 317 MOT tests, the 1996 Skoda Felicia recorded a 69.7% pass rate. That is 5.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.9%) and suspension (12.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 45 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.7% versus 27.1%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 26.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 41 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 38 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 35 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 31 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 45 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 39 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 23 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 19 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.5% | 119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.0% | 111 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 74 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.1% | 70 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 50 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 96 | 27.1% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 34.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 74 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 59 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 45 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 50 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Felicia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (12.0% 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.
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 1996 Skoda Felicias pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 317 1996 Skoda Felicia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Skoda Felicia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 1996 Felicia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.1% in the 30-60k band to 34.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 317 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.