Used car guide

2012 Skoda Roomster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Skoda Roomsters, from 2,324 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,324MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,400typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Skoda Roomsters than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.7× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    11.8% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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.

  • Individual direction indicators3.2× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    9.7% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    16.7% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2% of all 2012 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.3× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    5.3% All 2012 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Ball joint: 1.6% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.9% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Skoda Roomster MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    32% 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
    30% 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
    27% 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 joints
    12% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% 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.

Looking at a Skoda Roomster?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20151,673Tyres 31%
20142,729Tyres 30%
20132,600Tyres 32%
20111,491Suspension 37%
20101,218Tyres 39%
20091,069Suspension 46%
20081,903Suspension 49%
20072,132Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Skoda Roomsters registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score