2017 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,558 MOT tests, the 2017 Skoda Superb recorded an 87.8% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, tread depth and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 2,052 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.8% versus 7.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (12.7% vs 10.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,862 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 2,249 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,293 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 1,014 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 740 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 676 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 2,052 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,322 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,109 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 766 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 620 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 616 |
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 | 22.8% | 12,000 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 9,559 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 5,413 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 3,715 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,934 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 882 |
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 | 4,756 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 17,484 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 14,957 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 7,935 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,521 | 13.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,903 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,446 | 12.7% |
| Petrol | 11,107 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,525 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 10,496 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 10,578 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 10,565 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 10,394 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Superb
On a 2017 Superb, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (4.3% 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 (2.5% 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 2017 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 52,558 2017 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Skoda Superb?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.3%).
Does the 2017 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,558 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.