Used car guide · 2009–2018

Skoda Yeti common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Skoda Yeti, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 225,042 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

225,042MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
74,835on the UK register
2known faults across all years
2013best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

What usually goes wrong with a Skoda Yeti?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing chain (early 1.2 TSI)

    Cars registered 2009–2012 · Early 1.2 TSI petrol

    Early 1.2 TSI petrols are prone to expensive timing chain problems.

    At the viewing: Listen for rattling from the engine at a cold start.

    Source: What Car?: used Skoda Yeti (2009-2017) reliability

  • Exhaust sensors and sill rust

    Cars registered 2009–2017 · All engines

    Some owners report failing exhaust sensors and rust on the sills.

    At the viewing: Look along the sills and check for warning lights.

    Source: What Car?: used Skoda Yeti (2009-2017) reliability

Common Skoda Yeti MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 11.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014 and 2015.

    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.

Skoda Yeti MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2013 Skoda Yeti did best (74% passed first time, 7 points above all 2013 cars) and the 2009 did worst (62%, 3 points above all 2009 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201881%83% -2100 (small sample)
201784%80% +433,215
201681%77% +439,126
201578%74% +437,593
201476%70% +636,493
201374%67% +730,520
201270%64% +619,887
201168%62% +615,471
201064%60% +411,028
200962%59% +31,609

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Skoda Yeti

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the timing chain been replaced, and is there an invoice?
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 11.7× as often on the Skoda Yeti as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Skoda Yeti as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Skoda Yeti as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Skoda Yeti?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score