Skoda Felicia L (1998)

664 real MOT outcomes analysed • 30.8% first-time pass rate

1998 Skoda Felicia L

CarHunch analysed 664 real MOT records for the 1998 Skoda Felicia L. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1998 Skoda Felicia L has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 30.8%, less than half the UK average of 80%, which means most of these cars arrive at test with issues that need fixing. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 4.2%, so when failures do occur they're typically fixable rather than safety-critical.

At 70,000 miles on average, these Felicias have covered reasonable mileage for their 26-year age, yet they're still picking up 0.75 failures and 1.7 advisories per test on average—suggesting worn components and accumulated neglect rather than catastrophic problems. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection and expect to address at least one or two items before it will pass its next MOT.

Below average reliability 49.2% below UK average
30.8%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
65,309
typical mileage
53,064–83,088 middle half
4.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.75
avg MOT failures per car
over 2.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Skoda Felicia L

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Skoda Felicia L

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 663 30.7% 0.75
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Skoda Felicia L vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

53,064
low mileage
65,309
typical
83,088
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Skoda Felicia L vehicles fall between 53,064 and 83,088 miles.

MOT History Averages

2.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.75
Avg failures per vehicle
1.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Skoda Felicia L?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Skoda Felicia L:

1997 1999