Skoda

Skoda Felicia (2001)

149 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.8% first-time pass rate

2001 Skoda Felicia

CarHunch analysed 149 real MOT records for the 2001 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2001 Skoda Felicia's 68.8% first-time pass rate sits 11 percentage points below the UK average, signalling below-average reliability for its age. One in five of these cars have been flagged with a dangerous defect during MOT testing, which is a genuine buyer concern worth taking seriously.

These Felicias are running at modest mileages—56,425 miles median, which is reasonable for a 23-year-old car—yet they're accumulating nearly 4 failures per test on average, suggesting wear and corrosion issues rather than abuse. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the braking system, suspension, and exhaust mountings, since advisories cluster around these areas and often escalate into failures.

We have limited data for the 2001 Skoda Felicia — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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
68.8%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
20.8%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
3.89
Over 12 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
56k
Middle half: 39k–73k
For context

These stats describe 149 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 149 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56%
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.
Brake wear 53.5%
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.
Lighting 31.4%
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Nearside Headlamp aim too low · Offside Headlamp aim too low
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Suspension & steering 29.6%
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.
Exhaust & emissions 29.6%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 149 Skoda Felicia cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2001 Skoda Felicia

Based on MOT data from 149 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.8% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (79%) 118 69% 4.03

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 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.

56,425
typical
38,976
low mileage
73,174
high mileage

Half of all 2001 Skoda Felicia vehicles fall between 38,976 and 73,174 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 38,976 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.
38,976–73,174 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Skoda Felicias sit.
Over 98,784 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Skoda Felicia — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 2001 Skoda Felicias are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (19% of peak).

59 11 2014 2023

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

12
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.89
Avg failures per vehicle
16.8
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Skoda Felicia: All Felicia years → Which year to buy? →
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on