2010 Skoda Roomster — MOT failures & pass rate
8,549 MOT tests on the 2010 Skoda Roomster are in this dataset, and 78.0% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 2010 Roomster comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 7.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 402 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 22.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.0% fail against 24.7% for diesel, a 5.7-point gap across 8,549 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 1,006 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 678 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 563 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 541 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 460 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 297 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 402 |
| 2 | Joints | 308 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 289 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 267 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 263 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 241 |
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 | 28.2% | 2,413 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 2,369 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.4% | 1,746 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 959 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 952 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 852 |
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 | 232 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,493 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,586 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,409 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,233 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 594 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,494 | 24.7% |
| Petrol | 4,055 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,816 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 1,755 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 1,729 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 1,664 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 1,585 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Roomster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- Brakes (6.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2010 Skoda Roomsters pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 8,549 2010 Skoda Roomster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Skoda Roomster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2010 Roomster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,549 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.