2017 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
61,651 MOT tests on the 2017 Skoda Yeti are in this dataset, and 90.6% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 Yeti comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.0%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,193 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.8% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.4% of the time against 9.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 2,497 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 2,380 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,556 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 1,198 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,038 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 253 |
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 | 2,193 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,035 |
| 3 | Wipers | 904 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 760 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 561 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 340 |
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 | 19.1% | 11,793 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 8,398 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 6,723 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 3,543 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,600 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 440 |
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 | 20,327 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 29,973 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,075 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,809 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 347 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 16.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,368 | 9.4% |
| Diesel | 20,283 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,062 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 12,184 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 12,383 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 12,366 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 12,656 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Yeti
On a 2017 Yeti, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.5% 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.
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 2017 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 61,651 2017 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Skoda Yeti?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2017 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,651 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.