MOT data

Skoda Scala MOT fail rate by age and year

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 24,182 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

At 3 years, 10.9% of Skoda Scala MOT tests ended in a fail (adjusted to typical mileage), against 12.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 (10,020 MOT tests) ^[1].

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

Brakes: fails 1.8–2.2× as often as cars the same age at 3 years, 334 of 10,020 MOT tests
Mileage: median 21,820 miles at 3 years against 22,806 for all class 4 vehicles, 10,020 MOT tests
Before the mileage adjustment: 10.4% of MOT tests at 3 years ended in a fail, 10,020 MOT tests

Which engine and year a car has decides which of these apply. Check the reg first.

Figures are for the model, not one car, and compare with all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 in the same test year.

Fail rate at 3 years, typical mileage: 10.9%; vs 12.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3; 10,020 MOT tests
Fail rate at 3 years, raw: 10.4%; vs 12.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3; 10,020 MOT tests
Rank at 3 years: 82 of 207; 1 = fewest fails at typical mileage, among models with 5,000+ MOT tests at 3; 10,020 MOT tests
Median mileage at 3 years: 21,820 mi; vs 22,806 mi for all class 4 vehicles; 10,020 MOT tests

Skoda Scala MOT fail rate by age

Each line follows the cars first used in one year across the ages they were tested at from 2022 to 2025, so a line never mixes a 2005 car with a 2015 one. 24k DVSA MOT tests in all (24,182).

Skoda Scala, one line per first-use year (darker = newer) all class 4 vehicles at the same age

Skoda Scala: share of MOT tests that failed, by age. Only ages with at least 1,000 MOT tests. 'Typical mileage' is n/a where the model's mileage bands cover less than 80% of the national mix.
Age	MOT tests	Raw	Typical mileage	All class 4	Difference
3	10,020	10.4%	10.9%	12.1%	−1.1 pts
4	7,716	12.1%	12.5%	13.1%	−0.7 pts
5	4,858	12.7%	13.5%	14.4%	−0.9 pts
6	1,588	18.2%	19.1%	16.4%	+2.6 pts

About average: 10.4% raw · 10.9% at typical mileage, against 12.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3, 10,020 MOT tests. Which years? See the full verdict

What fails on a Skoda Scala at 3 years

1 of 11 parts fail clearly more or less often than on cars the same age, with the same direction at 3 or more ages up to 18 years and no mixed picture.

What failed at 3 years, per 100 MOT tests (10,020 MOT tests), against all class 4 vehicles tested at 3. A test that fails on two parts counts for both.
Part	Per 100	All class 4	Compared	Most common fail
Brakes	3.3	1.7	fails 1.8–2.2× as often as cars the same age	Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (MOT fail)
Tyres	4.3	4.8	about average for cars the same age	Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (MOT fail)
Lights and electrics	1.9	2.9	about average for cars the same age	Headlamp aim too low (MOT fail)
Visibility	1.0	2.8	about average for cars the same age	Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (MOT fail)
Seat belts and airbags	0.7	0.3	about average for cars the same age	Seat belt not functioning as intended (MOT fail)
Emissions and leaks	0.4	0.5	about average for cars the same age	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction (MOT fail)

Buying a Skoda Scala? Check that exact car before the viewing.

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

Model risks for this year and fuel
What similar cars did at their next MOT
Repairs ahead
Viewing checklist

See a sample report

Check one Skoda Scala, not the average

The figures here describe Skoda Scala cars as a group. A registration shows one car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Check a Skoda Scala's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check on a Skoda Scala The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.
Check a Skoda Scala for an outstanding recall Whether DVSA's MOT record flags an outstanding safety recall for that registration.

More Skoda Scala data

Skoda Scala recalls

1 DVSA recall lists this model by name [2]. Vehicles are DVSA's count of affected Skoda Scala vehicles. The latest:

R/2019/376 Also covers the Skoda Scala: An incorrect dataset was uploaded to the ocu unit (99 vehicles of this model), built Aug 2019 to Sep 2019. From the recall's stated risk: “The functions e-call and Info/Service call may not work correctly due to a software fault.”

Ask the seller for proof the work was done. Check any car on GOV.UK · Skoda Scala recalls

Skoda Scala against similar cars at 3 years

Same class and fuel, all tested at 3 years, at typical mileage.

Model	Fail rate	95% range	MOT tests
Skoda Scala	10.9%	10.3% to 11.6%	10,020
Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate	9.2%	9.1% to 9.4%	151,306
Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT fail rate	11.1%	10.9% to 11.2%	141,475
Ford Focus MOT fail rate	11.8%	11.6% to 12.0%	134,403
BMW 1 Series MOT fail rate	10.8%	10.6% to 11.0%	89,393
Audi A3 MOT fail rate	11.1%	10.8% to 11.3%	77,290
BMW 2 Series MOT fail rate	11.9%	11.6% to 12.2%	54,049
SEAT Leon MOT fail rate	12.6%	12.3% to 12.9%	49,082
Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT fail rate	13.5%	13.1% to 13.8%	39,186

Other Skoda models

More Skoda Scala data

Years

Running costs

Car tax calculator

By part

Questions people ask

How often does a Skoda Scala fail its MOT at 3 years?

10.9% of MOT tests at 3 years ended in a fail at typical mileage (10.4% as tested), from 10,020 MOT tests, against 12.1% for all class 4 vehicles the same age; the Volkswagen Golf was at 9.2%.

What fails most on a Skoda Scala at 3 years?

3.3 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years failed on brakes, most often "brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick", then tyres (4.3) and lights and electrics (1.9), from 10,020 MOT tests.

How does the Skoda Scala compare with the Volkswagen Golf?

At 3 years the Skoda Scala failed 10.9% of MOT tests at typical mileage, the Volkswagen Golf 9.2% and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class 11.1%, from 10,020, 151,306 and 141,475 MOT tests.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 24,182 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Vehicle safety recalls data. DVSA recall data. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Cars tested at 3 years are compared only with vehicles tested at 3 years in the same year, adjusted to typical mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data.