2020 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,040 MOT tests, the 2020 Skoda Superb recorded an 89.0% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 10.8%, so the 2020 Superb sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and suspension (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 605 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (12.2% vs 9.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 949 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.9% | 657 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 388 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 280 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 190 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 76 |
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 | 605 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 380 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 315 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 258 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 143 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 138 |
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 | 21.3% | 3,633 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 2,923 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.3% | 2,774 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 975 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 550 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 108 |
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 | 4,705 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 7,111 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,279 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,173 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 468 | 12.8% |
| 150k+ | 304 | 12.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,045 | 11.8% |
| Petrol | 5,504 | 9.1% |
| Hybrid | 4,491 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 2.8% |
| 2022 | 371 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 5,538 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 5,566 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 5,423 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Superb
On a 2020 Superb, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 (3.9% 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 (2.3% 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 2020 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 17,040 2020 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Skoda Superb?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by suspension (3.9%).
Does the 2020 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,040 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.