Skoda Rapid Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Skoda Rapid fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 36,420 MOT tests across 8 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
82%
Skoda Rapid pass rate
88%
Skoda average
82%
All-model average
The Skoda Rapid has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, which is 6 points below the Skoda average and equal to the average across all models in our data. Newer Skoda Rapids pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Skoda Rapid Fails Its MOT On
Of the 5,895 MOT tests on the Skoda Rapid that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
42%Cars and vans the same age: 31% (the Rapid fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
28%Cars and vans the same age: 25% · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
25%Cars and vans the same age: 33% (the Rapid fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
20%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
10%Cars and vans the same age: 8.7% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (18% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (8.6% of failed tests, tyres)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (8% of failed tests, suspension)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Skoda Rapid Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Rapid year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Skoda Rapid Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Skoda Rapid Running Costs
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Skoda Rapid FAQ
What are the most common Skoda Rapid problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Skoda Rapid that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (42% of the 5,895 failed tests), tyres (28%) and lights and electrics (25%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn" (18%). Across 36,420 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 82% ended in a pass.
Is the Skoda Rapid reliable?
The Skoda Rapid has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, from 36,420 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Skoda Rapid years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2016 (82% of 6,732 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars), the 2017 (83% of 6,256 tests passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars) and the 2018 (85% of 3,378 tests passed, against 89% for all 2018 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Skoda Rapid faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Skoda Rapid typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Skoda Models
Common problems pages for other Skoda models