2019 Skoda Scala — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,865 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Skoda Scala, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.1% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.1% in the 60-90k group versus 7.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.9% | 265 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 257 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 105 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 94 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.3% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 60 |
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 | 201 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 118 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 111 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 84 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 66 |
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 | 22.2% | 1,525 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 1,493 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 470 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.7% | 184 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 150 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 142 |
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 | 3,628 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,778 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 415 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,370 | 9.7% |
| Diesel | 495 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,622 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 1,716 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 1,706 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 1,810 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Scala
Before buying a 2019 Skoda Scala, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (3.9% 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.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (1.5% 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
How many 2019 Skoda Scalas pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 6,865 2019 Skoda Scala MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Skoda Scala?
Brakes, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).
Does the 2019 Scala get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,865 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.