1999 Skoda Felicia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,436 MOT tests, the 1999 Skoda Felicia recorded a 71.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.9%) 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 joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 283 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Felicia fails 23.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 3.2pp more often than diesel ones (29.6% vs 26.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 356 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 314 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 307 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.2% | 297 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 199 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 119 |
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 | 283 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 201 |
| 3 | Joints | 164 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 149 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 133 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 124 |
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 | 43.2% | 1,052 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.2% | 832 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.0% | 536 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.6% | 526 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.1% | 515 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.4% | 448 |
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 | 142 | 23.2% |
| 30-60k | 631 | 26.8% |
| 60-90k | 854 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 472 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 221 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 113 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,935 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 501 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 672 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 589 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 473 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 399 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 303 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Felicia
On a 1999 Felicia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% 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 (12.6% 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 1999 Skoda Felicias pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 2,436 1999 Skoda Felicia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Skoda Felicia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.9%).
Does the 1999 Felicia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,436 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.