2013 Skoda Rapid — MOT failures & pass rate
18,784 MOT tests on the 2013 Skoda Rapid are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.4%) and lighting & signalling (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 783 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.2% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.8% fail against 21.4% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 18,784 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.4% | 1,583 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 1,403 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 982 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 906 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 735 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 466 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 783 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 719 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 630 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 527 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 513 |
| 6 | Joints | 442 |
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 | 25.6% | 4,804 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.0% | 4,700 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.5% | 4,035 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 2,355 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 1,210 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 1,093 |
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 | 740 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,350 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,107 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,771 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,707 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,107 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,903 | 16.8% |
| Diesel | 6,881 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,006 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 3,895 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 3,802 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 3,663 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 3,418 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Rapid
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
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 2013 Skoda Rapids pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 18,784 2013 Skoda Rapid MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Rapid?
Suspension, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.5%).
Does the 2013 Rapid get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,784 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.