2018 Skoda Yeti — MOT failures & pass rate
251 MOT tests on the 2018 Skoda Yeti are in this dataset, and 87.3% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and lighting & signalling (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 60-90k band, a 9.2-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 16 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 12 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 9 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 6 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 3 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 5 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 5 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 6 | Wipers | 4 |
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 | 20.3% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 5 |
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 | 84 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 117 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 32 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 164 | 14.0% |
| Diesel | 87 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 42 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 46 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 53 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 50 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Yeti
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 2018 Skoda Yetis pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 251 2018 Skoda Yeti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Skoda Yeti?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2018 Yeti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 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.