Used car guide

2017 Skoda Yeti: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Skoda Yetis, from 11,162 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,162MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
6,400typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Skoda Yetis than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Shock absorbers3.5× usual
    Skoda Yeti
    13% All 2017 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.7% of all 2017 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 arm9.3× usual
    Skoda Yeti
    2.8% All 2017 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2017 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.

  • Headlight aim1.9× usual
    Skoda Yeti
    3.7% All 2017 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.9% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Skoda Yeti MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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
    21% 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
    18% 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
    8% 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
    4% 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
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Skoda Yeti?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201613,180Suspension 27%
201512,605Suspension 37%
201412,192Suspension 38%
201310,102Suspension 40%
20126,536Suspension 41%
20115,020Suspension 46%
20103,521Suspension 54%
2009509Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Skoda Yetis registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score