2017 Skoda Rapid — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Skoda Rapid passed 85.2% of its 23,116 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.6%) and suspension (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,256 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 14.5% of the time against 15.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,529 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 1,335 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.2% | 750 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 716 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 695 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 168 |
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 | 1,256 |
| 2 | Wipers | 594 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 508 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 483 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 370 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 333 |
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 | 27.8% | 6,420 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.4% | 4,724 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 4,693 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 2,015 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 682 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 355 |
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 | 4,301 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,682 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,889 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,626 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 677 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 938 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,294 | 14.5% |
| Diesel | 5,822 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,517 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 4,553 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 4,708 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 4,715 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 4,623 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Rapid
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.6% 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.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2017 Skoda Rapids pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 23,116 2017 Skoda Rapid MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Skoda Rapid?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2017 Rapid get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,116 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.