1997 Skoda Felicia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Skoda Felicia passed 72.9% of its 654 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.8%) 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, joints and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 83 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 28.1% in the 120-150k band, a 13.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.8% | 90 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 84 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.5% | 69 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 28 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Joints | 49 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 31 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.8% | 267 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 196 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 139 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.4% | 127 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.1% | 125 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 103 |
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 | 48 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 222 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 28.8% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 530 | 26.6% |
| Diesel | 124 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 175 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 160 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 120 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 114 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 85 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Felicia
On a 1997 Felicia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 1997 Skoda Felicias pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 654 1997 Skoda Felicia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Skoda Felicia?
Suspension, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.8%).
Does the 1997 Felicia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 654 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.