Used car guide

2014 Skoda Roomster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Skoda Roomsters, from 2,729 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,729MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
5,900typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    15.8% All 2014 cars
    8.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints4.5× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    6.7% All 2014 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2014 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.

  • Individual direction indicators3.6× usual
    Skoda Roomster
    3.6% All 2014 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 2014 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 5.7% of all 2014 cars. Coil springs: 2.9% here, against 6.8% of all 2014 cars.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    30% 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
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    25% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Steering
    8% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% 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%
20132,600Tyres 32%
20122,324Tyres 33%
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 2014 Skoda Roomsters registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score