2013 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 61,043 MOT tests, the 2013 Skoda Yeti recorded an 83.8% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.2% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,294 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 9.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (17.1% vs 13.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.2% | 5,007 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 2,921 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 2,452 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 2,166 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 1,202 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 1,106 |
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 | 2,294 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,932 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,354 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,083 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,012 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 929 |
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 | 23.1% | 14,086 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 13,786 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.9% | 12,784 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 3,872 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,153 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 1,999 |
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 | 2,352 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 15,530 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 22,070 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 13,695 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 5,318 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,053 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 45,874 | 17.1% |
| Petrol | 15,169 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,773 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 12,013 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 12,200 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 12,489 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 12,568 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Yeti
On a 2013 Yeti, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.0% 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 2013 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 61,043 2013 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Yeti?
Suspension, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2013 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,043 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.