Used car guide

2015 Skoda Rapid: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Skoda Rapids, from 3,045 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,045MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
7,900typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Skoda Rapids than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Shock absorbers3.8× usual
    Skoda Rapid
    19.8% All 2015 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.1% of all 2015 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Skoda Rapid
    15.5% All 2015 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.4% of all 2015 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Skoda Rapid
    2.1% All 2015 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.5% of all 2015 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.

By area

The share of 2015 Skoda Rapid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • 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
    28% 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
    12% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    5% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20182,140Tyres 33%
20173,856Tyres 33%
20163,982Tyres 35%
20145,096Suspension 40%
20132,778Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Skoda Rapids registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score