2012 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,361 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Skoda Yeti, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 80.7% was above the average for small SUVs of a similar age (77.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.3% in the 150k+ group versus 9.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.7% | 4,407 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 2,274 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 1,918 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,519 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 1,262 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 895 |
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 | 1,931 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,661 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,014 |
| 4 | Joints | 891 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 883 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 849 |
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 | 23.6% | 9,764 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.1% | 9,121 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.7% | 8,964 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.0% | 2,881 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 2,106 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 1,711 |
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 | 886 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,160 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 13,762 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 11,703 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 5,353 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,475 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,756 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 10,605 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,048 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 8,209 | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 8,396 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 8,355 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 8,353 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Yeti
Before buying a 2012 Skoda Yeti, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 10.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 2012 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 41,361 2012 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Skoda Yeti?
Suspension, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2012 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,361 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.