2014 Skoda Roomster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Skoda Roomster passed 86.3% of its 15,962 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 5.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.5%) and tyres (4.4%) 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 485 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.2% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.9% fail against 16.7% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 15,962 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 880 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 703 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 699 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 578 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 394 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 334 |
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 | 485 |
| 2 | Wipers | 361 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 309 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 277 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 276 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 251 |
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 | 24.9% | 3,969 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 3,514 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 1,978 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 1,639 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 953 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 691 |
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 | 2,355 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 6,788 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,681 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,633 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 372 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 129 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,547 | 12.9% |
| Diesel | 3,415 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,081 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 3,143 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 3,192 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 3,265 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 3,281 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Roomster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
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 2014 Skoda Roomsters pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 15,962 2014 Skoda Roomster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Skoda Roomster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2014 Roomster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,962 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.