2011 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,275 MOT tests, the 2011 Skoda Superb recorded a 77.4% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 22.9%, so the 2011 Superb sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.3%) and lighting & signalling (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 800 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.2% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (23.3% vs 20.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.3% | 2,246 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,703 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 1,253 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 933 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 423 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 366 |
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 | 800 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 711 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 669 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 636 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 449 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 430 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.2% | 4,796 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.6% | 4,676 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.2% | 3,873 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 1,638 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 1,196 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 972 |
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 | 107 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,146 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,222 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,658 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,899 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 5,224 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,351 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 4,919 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,942 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 3,902 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 3,734 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 3,466 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 3,231 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Superb
On a 2011 Superb, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% 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 2011 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 18,275 2011 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Skoda Superb?
Suspension, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2011 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,275 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.