2015 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Skoda Yeti passed 86.8% of its 72,504 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (16.5% fail rate), the 2015 Yeti comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.3%) and suspension (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,841 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 23.0% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (14.5% vs 11.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 3,851 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.2% | 3,764 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,845 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 2,421 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 1,161 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 988 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,841 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,603 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,117 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,049 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,003 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 963 |
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 | 22.9% | 16,564 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.3% | 15,420 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.7% | 12,826 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 4,614 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 2,180 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 1,147 |
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 | 8,466 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 31,574 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 21,880 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 7,862 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,047 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 669 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,669 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 30,835 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,993 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 14,154 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 14,557 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 14,709 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 15,091 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Yeti
On a 2015 Yeti, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.2% 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.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
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 2015 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 72,504 2015 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Skoda Yeti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (5.2%).
Does the 2015 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,504 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.