Skoda Felicia (1997)
1997 Skoda Felicia
CarHunch analysed 12,011 real MOT records for the 1997 Skoda Felicia. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1997 Skoda Felicia passes its MOT first time in just 66.8% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, which means you're more likely than not to face repair costs before your test certificate is valid. With 15.2% of these cars having recorded a dangerous defect during their MOT history, structural or brake failures are a genuine concern you'll need to inspect carefully on any used example.
These Felicias are typically running around 71,500 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but the average vehicle racks up 2.49 failures per MOT and 8.6 advisories, suggesting aging suspension, corrosion, and wear components are the norm rather than the exception. Before you buy, budget for pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, steering, and underside corrosion—don't rely on the seller's last MOT certificate as a clean bill of health.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1997 Skoda Felicia
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
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 (85%) | 10,217 | 67.1% | 2.43 |
| Diesel (15%) | 1,792 | 65.3% | 2.82 |
| LPG (0%) | 2 | 74.6% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Skoda Felicia 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.
Half of all 1997 Skoda Felicia vehicles fall between 55,010 and 88,781 miles.
1997 Skoda Felicia — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 66 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Skoda Felicia
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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32.6%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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26%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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25.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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24.9%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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23.1%
Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded
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23.1%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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22%
Nearside Headlamp aim too low
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21.6%
Offside Headlamp aim too low
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Skoda Felicia?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.