2009 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,538 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Skoda Superb, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 75.8% was in line with the average for large family cars of a similar age (75.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.6% in the 150k+ group versus 19.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 872 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 840 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 456 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 337 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 250 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 159 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 322 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 298 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 263 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 238 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 232 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 206 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.2% | 2,171 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 1,834 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.7% | 1,354 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.5% | 621 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 588 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 502 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 47 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 330 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 898 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,461 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,524 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,268 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,968 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 570 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,617 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 1,448 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 1,317 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 1,173 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 983 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Superb
Before buying a 2009 Skoda Superb, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Skoda Superbs pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 6,538 2009 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Skoda Superb?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.8%).
Does the 2009 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,538 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.