Used car guide

2014 Skoda Rapid: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Skoda Rapids, from 5,096 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,096MOT tests in 2025

69%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)

7,800typical miles a year

3.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Skoda Rapids than on all cars registered in 2014.

Shock absorbers3.5× usual

Skoda Rapid
20.1% All 2014 cars
5.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Brake discs1.7× usual

Skoda Rapid
23% All 2014 cars
13.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.
Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual

Skoda Rapid
16.2% All 2014 cars
8.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 1.7% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Engine oil leaks1.9× usual

Skoda Rapid
8% All 2014 cars
4.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Link ball joint covers2.4× usual

Skoda Rapid
3.4% All 2014 cars
1.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.8% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1% here, against 4.5% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Skoda Rapid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

40% 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.
Tyres

33% 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.
Brakes

32% 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.
Lights and electrics

15% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

9% 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

6% 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.

Looking at a Skoda Rapid?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2018	2,140	Tyres 33%
2017	3,856	Tyres 33%
2016	3,982	Tyres 35%
2015	3,045	Suspension 38%
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 2014 Skoda Rapids registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score