Skoda Scala MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 7 model years and 27,022 tests, the Skoda Scala passes its MOT 90.8% of the time. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 8.8%, so the Scala sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.1%) and brakes (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, brake discs and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 736 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.4% versus 7.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.1% fail against 10.8% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 27,022 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Scala model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6,925 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 10,975 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 6,112 | 91.3% | 8.8% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 2,580 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 392 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 35 | 97.1% | 2.9% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.1% | 1,109 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.7% | 999 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 454 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 281 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 172 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 149 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.5% | 134 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.2% | 62 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 736 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 457 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 367 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 308 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 282 |
| 6 | Washers | 172 |
| 7 | Track rod end | 158 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 152 |
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 | 22.9% | 6,188 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 5,753 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,697 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 527 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.5% | 400 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 383 |
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 | 15,390 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,124 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,295 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 161 | 9.9% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,930 | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 1,092 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,799 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 5,495 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 8,524 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 11,187 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a Skoda Scala
- Tyres (4.1% 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.
- Brakes (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Skoda Scala?
90.8% of the 27,022 Skoda Scala MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.2% fail rate, across model years 2019–2025.
What does the Skoda Scala most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.1% of tests, then brakes (3.7%).
How much does mileage affect Scala MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.4% for 120-150k, a 12.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Scala more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 9.1% of the time against 10.8% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,022 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.