2023 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,021 MOT tests, the 2023 Skoda Superb recorded a 96.6% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 6.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.5%) and brakes (0.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — brake pads alone was recorded 10 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2023 Superb fails 2.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 8.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.8% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.5% | 25 |
| 2 | Brakes | 0.8% | 8 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 2 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 5 | Attachment | 2 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1 |
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 | 8.9% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 76 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 24 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 511 | 2.7% |
| 30-60k | 287 | 3.5% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 5.4% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 3.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 732 | 3.3% |
| Hybrid | 150 | 3.3% |
| Petrol | 139 | 4.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 123 | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 357 | 1.7% |
| 2025 | 541 | 5.2% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Superb
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Brakes (0.8% 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 (0.7% 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
How many 2023 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
96.6% of the 1,021 2023 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Skoda Superb?
Tyres, recorded in 2.5% of tests, followed by brakes (0.8%).
Does the 2023 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.7% in the 0-30k band to 3.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,021 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.