Used car guide

2018 Skoda Superb: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Skoda Superbs, from 7,344 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,344MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
10,800typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Skoda Superbs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Shock absorbers3.9× usual
    Skoda Superb
    11.4% All 2018 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.5% of all 2018 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.

  • Windscreen1.8× usual
    Skoda Superb
    3.5% All 2018 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Engine warning light1.8× usual
    Skoda Superb
    2% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1.1% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Skoda Superb MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    19% 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
    16% 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
    5% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Skoda Superb?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023517Tyres 15%
20223,149Tyres 26%
20214,211Tyres 27%
20204,859Tyres 27%
20196,709Tyres 28%
20178,988Tyres 29%
20168,088Tyres 30%
20154,508Suspension 33%
20144,345Suspension 36%
20133,430Suspension 38%
20123,578Suspension 41%
20112,495Suspension 45%
20101,592Suspension 53%
2009776Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Skoda Superbs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score