Used car guide

1999 Skoda Felicia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Skoda Felicias, from 250 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 250 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

250MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
2,900typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Skoda Felicias than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Wheel bearings3.1× usual
    Skoda Felicia
    17.6% All 1999 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.4× usual
    Skoda Felicia
    14.4% All 1999 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

By area

The share of 1999 Skoda Felicia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    44% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    38% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2000261Brakes 49%
1998155Suspension 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Skoda Felicias registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score