Does the Skoda Rapid fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Skoda Rapid records 0.54 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.32 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.78, 95% interval −0.84 to −0.71). It ranks 334 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Skoda Rapid by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Skoda Rapid is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 265 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 265 | 0.20 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 162 | 0.12 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 147 | 0.11 |
| Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive | 55 | 0.04 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 131,764 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Skoda Rapid 2012 · Skoda Rapid 2013 · Skoda Rapid 2014 · Skoda Rapid 2015 · Skoda Rapid 2016 · Skoda Rapid 2017 · Skoda Rapid 2018 · Skoda Rapid 2019 · Skoda Rapid in Norway · Skoda Rapid in Finland · Skoda Rapid in the Netherlands · Skoda Rapid by postcode area · Skoda Rapid body, chassis and structure failures · Skoda Rapid brakes failures · Skoda Rapid vehicle identification failures · Skoda Rapid lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Skoda Rapid noise, emissions and leaks failures · Skoda Rapid road wheels failures · Skoda Rapid seat belts and airbags failures · Skoda Rapid suspension failures · Skoda Rapid tyres failures · Skoda Rapid visibility failures