Skoda Citigo MOT failure rate and common faults
52,097 Skoda Citigo cars aged 3 to 20 took their MOT in 2025, and 22.0% failed at the first attempt. An average car of the same age failed 26.9% of the time, which makes the Skoda Citigo 18% less likely to fail than the typical car on the road. Here is what fails, and which years to look for.
22.0%
failed first time
52,097 MOT tests in 2025
-18%
vs same age average
average car of this age mix: 26.9%
61 of 208
age adjusted rank
among cars; 1 fails least
60.3
dangerous defects per 1,000
same age average: 100.6
What fails on a Skoda Citigo MOT
Failure items recorded per 1,000 tests, by part of the car, set against an average car with exactly the same spread of ages. A figure well above average is a weak spot worth checking before you buy.
The most common Skoda Citigo MOT failures
The individual failure items testers recorded most often, per 1,000 tests.
| Failure item | Area | Per 1,000 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 26.8 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Windscreen, wipers and mirrors | 22.5 |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights and electrics | 22.2 |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 20.8 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights and electrics | 20.2 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | Brakes | 18.7 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights and electrics | 14.9 |
| Fuel cap/sealing device: ineffective | Body, chassis, exhaust and drive shafts | 13.6 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Engine, emissions and leaks | 12.8 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights and electrics | 12.7 |
Skoda Citigo MOT failure rate by year
Every car fails more often as it ages, so each registration year is compared with the average for all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 500 tests are left out.
| First registered | Tests | Failed | Same age average | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4,523 | 11.8% | 16.5% | 32,900 |
| 2018 | 5,343 | 16.8% | 19.1% | 37,200 |
| 2017 | 6,288 | 19.9% | 21.8% | 43,500 |
| 2016 | 7,831 | 26.2% | 25.1% | 49,600 |
| 2015 | 8,034 | 22.8% | 28.1% | 54,800 |
| 2014 | 9,127 | 24.8% | 31.4% | 64,300 |
| 2013 | 6,912 | 24.4% | 34.3% | 67,000 |
| 2012 | 3,705 | 24.9% | 36.6% | 70,200 |
Advisories to look for in a Skoda Citigo's MOT history
An advisory is a tester's warning that something is wearing but has not failed yet. These are the ones written most often on the Skoda Citigo, per 1,000 tests. If the car you are looking at has one of these, ask whether it has been fixed since.
- Tyres: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing228.0
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge196.6
- Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement98.4
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened88.6
- Brake pads: wearing thin43.7
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively38.4
Checking a used Skoda Citigo before you buy
Against cars of the same age, the Skoda Citigo fails more often than average on engine, emissions and leaks. Start there.
Engine, emissions and leaks
Start the car from cold and watch the exhaust for smoke, look underneath for oil or fuel leaks, and make sure the engine warning light comes on with the ignition and goes out once the engine runs.
Averages only take you so far. The specific car's MOT history shows whether it has already failed on any of these, how often advisories were ignored, and whether the mileage climbs steadily from test to test. Read our guide to reading a car's MOT history before you go to view it.
Skoda Citigo MOT questions
What is the Skoda Citigo MOT failure rate?
22.0% of Skoda Citigo cars failed their first MOT test of 2025, from 52,097 tests on vehicles aged 3 to 20. An average car with the same age mix failed 26.9% of the time, so the Skoda Citigo was 18% less likely to fail.
What fails most often on a Skoda Citigo MOT?
Lights and electrics caused the most failure items, at 106 per 1,000 tests. The single most common failure item was "Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn", recorded 26.8 times per 1,000 tests.
Which Skoda Citigo year has the best MOT record?
Measured against cars of the same age, 2012 registrations did best: 24.9% failed against an average of 36.6% for cars that age. Older cars always fail more often, so compare a year with its age group rather than with newer cars.
Does this tell me whether a particular Skoda Citigo will pass?
No. These are averages across every Skoda Citigo tested in 2025. The car in front of you has its own record: its full MOT history shows every pass, failure and advisory it has had, and it is free to view by registration.
Other Skoda models
- Skoda Fabia28.8% failed
- Skoda Octavia24.0% failed
- Skoda Yeti26.1% failed
- Skoda Superb22.5% failed
- Skoda Karoq11.1% failed
- Skoda Kodiaq12.8% failed
Ranked close to the Skoda Citigo
- Jaguar XFrank 58
- Mini Cooperrank 59
- Volkswagen Golfrank 60
- Audi A3rank 62
How these figures are calculated
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 release. We count first tests of cars and small vans (class 4) aged 3 to 20, so a car that fails and is retested is counted once. A failure includes faults fixed and passed within the same visit. The same age average weights the national failure rate for each age by how many Skoda Citigo cars of that age were tested, so a model is never penalised for having an older fleet. Make and model are as recorded at the test; trim levels are combined. Full method and rankings.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.