2019 Skoda Rapid — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,214 MOT tests, the 2019 Skoda Rapid recorded a 90.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (9.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 52 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.3% in the 0-30k band and 13.9% in the 90-120k band, a 8.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 120 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 54 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 47 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 40 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 3 | Wipers | 29 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 27 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 26 |
| 6 | Washers | 25 |
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 | 26.3% | 582 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 304 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 294 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 171 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 60 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 21 |
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 | 836 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,083 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 233 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,168 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 46 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 536 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 541 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 530 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 547 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Rapid
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% 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 2019 Skoda Rapids pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 2,214 2019 Skoda Rapid MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Skoda Rapid?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2019 Rapid get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,214 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.