Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Skoda Felicia?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Skoda Felicia?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Skoda Felicia?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Skoda Felicia reliable?

Based on MOT data from 15,576 vehicles, the 1998 Skoda Felicia has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Skoda Felicia?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Skoda Felicia are: Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (54.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (42.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Skoda Felicia?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Skoda Felicia (1998)

15,576 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.7% first-time pass rate

1998 Skoda Felicia

CarHunch analysed 15,576 real MOT records for the 1998 Skoda Felicia. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Skoda Felicia is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 67.7% against the typical 80%, and nearly one in five cars (18.3%) have recorded dangerous defects—a genuine safety concern for buyers. Petrol models fare marginally better at 68.1% pass rate versus 65.9% for diesels, though both fall well short of the standard.

At around 65,000–73,000 miles, these cars show typical mileage for their age, but the real problem emerges in the failure rate: averaging nearly three failures per MOT test means you should budget for regular mechanical work and expect advisories in double figures. If you're considering one, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic and factor in ongoing repair costs—this is not a set-and-forget car.

The 1998 Skoda Felicia has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

67.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

18.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.96

Over 8.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 50k–82k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 15,576 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 15,576 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54.3%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 41.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 37.2%

Oil leak

Lighting 26.8%

Offside Headlamp aim too low · Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 25.2%

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 15,576 Skoda Felicia cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

68.2%

Petrol

12,345 vehicles

65.9%

Diesel

3,225 vehicles

Before you buy a 1998 Skoda Felicia

Based on MOT data from 15,576 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (79%)	12,345	68.2%	2.93
Diesel (21%)	3,225	65.9%	3.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 64,493 Skoda Felicia vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 27.9%

18,020

Red 26.2%

16,898

Green 19%

12,248

White 13.4%

8,671

Silver 7.4%

4,772

Grey 3.2%

2,052

Black 1.6%

1,031

Yellow 1%

670

Purple 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

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

65,493

typical

49,632

low mileage

82,287

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Skoda Felicia vehicles fall between 49,632 and 82,287 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,632 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,632–82,287 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Skoda Felicias sit.

⚠ Over 111,087 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Skoda Felicia — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 Skoda Felicias are still active.

Numbers are declining — 150 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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.96

Avg failures per vehicle

11.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Skoda Felicia: All Felicia years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Skoda Felicia stacks up against a rival.

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