86.9%
Škoda Scala
Škoda Scala MOT pass rate and common problems
The Škoda Scala passed 86.9% of its initial MOT tests in 2025, 14.6 percentage points above the 72.3% UK average. The item testers recorded most often was brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick.
Checking a specific car? Its own results, advisories and recorded mileages are in a free MOT history check.
How the Scala compares
Initial MOT tests in 2025, retests excluded. A car that failed and was repaired at the test station counts as a fail.
76.4%
Škoda average
72.3%
UK average, all cars
The Scala runs 10.5 points ahead of the Škoda average. It is 5th of the 12 Škoda models in the data. The average Scala arrived at its test 4.3 years old with 35,270 miles recorded.
A pass rate records whether cars met the roadworthiness standard on test day. It is not a reliability score, and part of any gap reflects how old the tested cars were.
Scala MOT pass rate by age
The same 2025 tests split by the car's age at test.
Škoda Scala cars aged 3 to 5 years passed 86.5% of MOT tests. For cars aged 6 to 10 years that fell to 79.6%, a drop of 6.9 percentage points.
| Age at test | Tests | Pass rate | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 years | 7,964 | 86.5% | 14.2 pts above |
| 6 to 10 years | 216 | 79.6% | 7.3 pts above |
That is a typical decline as cars age. The UK average of 72.3% covers cars of every age, so compare like with like.
Where Scala failures cluster
Every failure item recorded on Škoda Scala cars in 2025, grouped into the DVSA's test areas.
Brakes and tyres together account for 61.7% of recorded failure items. These are recorded failures across the model, not faults every car has.
The 10 most common Scala MOT failures
Specific items recorded on Škoda Scala cars that failed their 2025 MOT, as a share of all recorded failure items.
Together these 10 items make up 61.6% of everything testers recorded against failed Škoda Scala cars. The rest is spread across many smaller items, and one failed test often records several at once.
What to look at on a Scala
The recorded failures above, grouped by area, biggest first.
1
Tyres
Recorded most often: condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, condition has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, condition has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure and condition has ply or cords exposed. 27.3% of failure items.
2
Brakes
Recorded most often: brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick, brake discs significantly and obviously worn and service brake performance excessively fluctuating. 24.8% of failure items.
3
Steering
Recorded most often: track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 5.9% of failure items.
4
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Recorded most often: headlamp aim too high. 3.7% of failure items.
The car's own MOT history matters more than any model average. A free MOT history check shows whether a specific Scala has failed on these items before, or had them noted as advisories. Buying one? See the used Škoda Scala buying guide.
Already found one?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Škoda Scala MOT FAQs
What is the Škoda Scala MOT pass rate?
86.9% of Škoda Scala cars passed their initial MOT first time in 2025, from 10,179 tests. That is 14.6 percentage points above the 72.3% average for all cars, and ranks 89th of 575 models.
What does a Škoda Scala most commonly fail its MOT on?
The item testers recorded most often on Škoda Scala cars failing their 2025 MOT was brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick, on 15% of failure items. Next were condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (9.2%) and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6.4%).
Which area causes the most Škoda Scala MOT failures?
Across every recorded failure item, the largest area was brakes at 31.2%, followed by tyres at 30.5%.
Do older Škoda Scala cars fail their MOT more often?
Škoda Scala cars aged 3 to 5 years passed 86.5% of MOT tests in 2025, against 79.6% for cars aged 6 to 10 years.
Does this mean every Škoda Scala has these problems?
No. These are the items testers recorded across every Škoda Scala that failed in 2025. They show where the model most often needs attention, not the condition of any individual car.
How do I see a specific Škoda Scala's MOT history?
Enter its registration on the free Carpeep MOT history check to see that car's own test results, failures, advisories and recorded mileages.
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025: class 4 initial tests, retests excluded, with failure items from failed tests (advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability.