2015 Skoda Rapid — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,227 MOT tests, the 2015 Skoda Rapid recorded an 83.1% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2015 Rapid comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.9%) and tyres (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 804 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.7% in the 0-30k band and 19.8% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.9% fail against 18.3% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 19,227 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.9% | 1,329 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,294 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 993 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.4% | 840 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 531 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 313 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 804 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 509 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 489 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 481 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 395 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 394 |
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 | 25.8% | 4,964 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 4,913 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 4,369 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 1,564 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 707 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 612 |
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 | 1,416 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,752 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,066 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,457 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,043 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,492 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,949 | 15.9% |
| Diesel | 8,278 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,866 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 3,875 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 3,894 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 3,845 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 3,747 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Rapid
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% 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 2015 Skoda Rapids pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 19,227 2015 Skoda Rapid MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Skoda Rapid?
Suspension, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2015 Rapid get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,227 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.