2009 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
3,587 MOT tests on the 2009 Skoda Yeti are in this dataset, and 76.3% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (25.8% fail rate), the 2009 Yeti comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 169 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.3% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 27.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.9% fail against 24.3% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 3,587 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 490 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 325 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 221 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 148 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 142 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 107 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 169 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 152 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 140 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 128 |
| 5 | Joints | 107 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 97 |
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 | 33.9% | 1,216 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.4% | 876 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.0% | 719 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 298 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 286 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 254 |
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 | 44 | 2.3% |
| 30-60k | 284 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 843 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,142 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 791 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 482 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,719 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 868 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 747 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 732 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 730 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 705 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 673 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Yeti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
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 2009 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 3,587 2009 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Skoda Yeti?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.1%).
Does the 2009 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,587 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.