Used car guide

2008 Skoda Roomster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Skoda Roomsters, from 1,903 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,903MOT tests in 2025
51%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,300typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Skoda Roomsters than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    15.7% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 3.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Braking performance1.8× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    11.6% All 2008 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Individual direction indicators2.3× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    7.1% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Link ball joint covers2× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    7.1% All 2008 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.9% of all 2008 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.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses4.6× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    2.3% All 2008 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.5% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 4.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Skoda Roomster MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Brakes
    38% 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
    36% 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
    35% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    16% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Skoda Roomster?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20151,673Tyres 31%
20142,729Tyres 30%
20132,600Tyres 32%
20122,324Tyres 33%
20111,491Suspension 37%
20101,218Tyres 39%
20091,069Suspension 46%
20072,132Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Skoda Roomsters registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score