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Skoda Roomster Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid

What the Skoda Roomster 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 31,287 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).

Segment: small family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol

77%

Skoda Roomster pass rate

88%

Skoda average

82%

All-model average

The Skoda Roomster has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, which is 11 points below the Skoda average and 5 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Skoda Roomsters pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 11 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

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What the Skoda Roomster Fails Its MOT On

Of the 6,328 MOT tests on the Skoda Roomster 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.

Lights and electrics

41%

Cars and vans the same age: 44% · Typical repair £15-£200

Suspension

37%

Cars and vans the same age: 39% · Typical repair £150-£600

Brakes

24%

Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £80-£450

Body, chassis and structure

21%

Cars and vans the same age: 15% (the Roomster fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200

Tyres

20%

Cars and vans the same age: 19% · Typical repair £50-£300

The 3 single faults it failed on most

  1. Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (13% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
  2. Position lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken (11% 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 Roomster 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 Roomster 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

  • 2007: 69% passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars (4 points lower, 4,629 tests)
  • 2008: 70% passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars (4 points lower, 3,944 tests)
  • 2009: 71% passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars (4 points lower, 2,140 tests)

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 Roomster 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.

2006
65%
Lowest
2007
69%
2008
70%
2009
71%
2010
76%
2011
78%
2012
78%
2013
82%
2014
84%
2015
85%
Highest
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail RateAll Cars
2015Diesel1.2L85%14%84% (+1)
2014Diesel1.2L84%16%82% (+2)
2013Diesel1.2L82%18%80% (+2)
2012Diesel1.4L78%21%79% (-1)
2011Diesel1.4L78%21%77% (+1)
2010Diesel1.4L76%23%75% (+1)
2009Diesel1.4L71%28%75% (-4)
2008Diesel1.4L70%29%74% (-4)
2007Diesel1.4L69%30%73% (-4)
2006Petrol1.6L65%35%-

Skoda Roomster Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Skoda Roomster? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.

View Skoda Roomster Running Costs

Skoda Roomster FAQ

What are the most common Skoda Roomster problems?

In 2025, MOT tests on the Skoda Roomster that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (41% of the 6,328 failed tests), suspension (37%) and brakes (24%). The single most common fault was "Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure" (13%). Across 31,287 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 77% ended in a pass.

Is the Skoda Roomster reliable?

The Skoda Roomster has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, from 31,287 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 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.

Which Skoda Roomster years should I avoid?

Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2007 (69% of 4,629 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars), the 2008 (70% of 3,944 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) and the 2009 (71% of 2,140 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 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 Roomster faults?

As a rough guide, brake work on a Skoda Roomster 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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