2012 Skoda Rapid: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Skoda Rapids, from 155 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: only 155 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2012 Skoda Rapid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Suspension37% 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.
- Brakes33% 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.
- Tyres32% 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.
- Lights and electrics23% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Driveshafts and joints13% of testsRough price £60–£350
At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.
- Steering10% of testsRough price £100–£450
At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.
Known faults
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- Timing chain wear (1.2 TSI petrol)1.2 TSI petrol (older engine)
The older 1.2 TSI petrol uses a timing chain that can stretch. It starts as a rattle, especially when the engine first starts, and if it’s left the chain can fail and destroy the engine. Some garages advise changing it as often as every four years or 40,000 miles.
At the viewing: Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds. Ask whether the chain has been changed, with an invoice.
Looking at a Skoda Rapid?
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 489 | Tyres 36% |
| 2018 | 2,140 | Tyres 33% |
| 2017 | 3,856 | Tyres 33% |
| 2016 | 3,982 | Tyres 35% |
| 2015 | 3,045 | Suspension 38% |
| 2014 | 5,096 | Suspension 40% |
| 2013 | 2,778 | Suspension 39% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Skoda Rapids registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score