2013 Skoda Roomster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Skoda Roomster passed 83.9% of its 15,870 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.9 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and suspension (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, individual direction indicators and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 436 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.6% versus 8.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.2pp more often than petrol ones (19.0% vs 14.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 1,143 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.0% | 793 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 732 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 672 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 531 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 406 |
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 | 436 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 421 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 357 |
| 4 | Joints | 347 |
| 5 | Wipers | 341 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 334 |
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 | 26.4% | 4,188 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 3,866 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.3% | 2,275 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 1,980 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,762 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 906 |
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 | 1,279 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,759 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 5,276 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,487 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 814 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 254 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,065 | 14.8% |
| Diesel | 4,805 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,136 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 3,153 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 3,192 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 3,193 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 3,196 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Roomster
On a 2013 Roomster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.0% 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 (4.6% 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.
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 Roomsters pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 15,870 2013 Skoda Roomster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Roomster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by suspension (5.0%).
Does the 2013 Roomster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,870 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.