1998 Skoda Felicia — MOT failures & pass rate
1,503 MOT tests on the 1998 Skoda Felicia are in this dataset, and 74.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.1%) 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, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 187 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 25.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 199 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 182 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 170 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.4% | 157 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 77 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 70 |
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 | 187 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 93 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 83 |
| 4 | Joints | 79 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 69 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 68 |
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 | 40.4% | 607 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.6% | 550 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.5% | 368 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.8% | 328 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.5% | 323 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.8% | 268 |
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 | 95 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 525 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 450 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 290 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,181 | 26.2% |
| Diesel | 322 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 445 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 356 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 277 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 227 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 198 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Felicia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.1% 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+.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
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 1998 Skoda Felicias pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 1,503 1998 Skoda Felicia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Skoda Felicia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.1%).
Does the 1998 Felicia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,503 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.