Skip to main content
Check

Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) (1994-2001) reliability

At a glance

Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) built before 2000: about average at the MOT

Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) models built before 2000 fail their MOT a little more often than similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Looking at a Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

29% of MOT tests on Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) models built before 2000 ended in a fail (retests included), against 25% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) models built before 2000 involves the brakes.

Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791)
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate1994-2001HatchbackPETROL / DIESEL

Based on 1,003 tests of Felicia models registered 1994-2001.

About 1 in 7 Felicia Mk1 (791) MOTs (14.4%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 868 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025), a small sample, so the figure is likely between 12.2% and 16.9%. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 20 Felicia Mk1 (791) MOTs (5.3%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old).

Based on 868 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025), a small sample, so the figure is likely between 4.0% and 7.0%. Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk1 (791) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
13532.6%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
86828.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 24 years old.

How the Felicia Mk1 (791) compares

At each age below, see how the Felicia Mk1 (791) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 1,193 tests across 3 Skoda models, built before 2000 (over 25 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateSkoda average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
13532.6%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
86828.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Leaks

Worth checking

Inspect the leaks carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Felicia Mk1 (791).

  1. 1

    Ford Sierra

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    11.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6%
    Dangerous
    1.5%

    Lower fail rate: 11.5%, against 28.8% for the Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791), both built before 2000.

    3,022 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  2. 2

    Vauxhall Nova

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.8%
    Dangerous
    2.2%

    Lower fail rate: 15.2%, against 28.8% for the Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791), both built before 2000.

    1,003 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  3. 3

    Ford Escort

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    9.6%
    Dangerous
    3.8%

    Lower fail rate: 16.8%, against 28.8% for the Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791), both built before 2000.

    10,088 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  4. 4

    Austin Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    22.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.9%
    Dangerous
    4.5%

    Lower fail rate: 22.6%, against 28.8% for the Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791), both built before 2000.

    3,373 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.

Recall context

1 recall in all

No recall notices match this build period.

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on Felicia Mk1 (791) cars built before 2000

The share of petrol cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 4,331 cars.

Structural systems

Drivetrain
50%
Emissions
44%
Suspension
41%
Steering
8%
Bodywork
8%

Wear items

Lighting
57%
Brakes
53%
Tyres
36%

Rust, which the MOT calls corrosion: 19% of these cars show rust-related issues at this age.

Check the sills, subframe and brake pipes before you decide.

How Felicia Mk1 (791) cars have aged

How Felicia Mk1 (791) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%20%30%2122232425Age at MOTBuilt around 2000, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 31.8% (402 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2000, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 33.0% (349 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2000, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 33.1% (260 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2000, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 32.1% (209 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2000, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 32.1% (187 tests, 2025 data)2000Built around 1999, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 29.6% (395 tests, 2021 data)Built around 1999, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 31.7% (353 tests, 2022 data)Built around 1999, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 28.8% (285 tests, 2023 data)Built around 1999, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 35.0% (197 tests, 2024 data)1999Built around 1998, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 33.3% (192 tests, 2021 data)Built around 1998, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 24.5% (139 tests, 2022 data)Built around 1998, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 28.1% (114 tests, 2023 data)1998Built around 1997, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 26.3% (57 tests, 2021 data)Built around 1997, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 33.3% (54 tests, 2022 data)1997
First registered around 2000First registered around 1999First registered around 1998First registered around 1997
Mk1 (791) variants compared

Felicia Mk1 (791) variants built before 2000

The fail rate for each Felicia Mk1 (791) variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Petrol

  • FELICIA28.4%665 tests

Diesel

  • FELICIA30.0%203 tests
All generations of this modelNot much data

Most common issues on Skoda Felicias of this age

This list covers every Skoda Felicia built before 2000, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk1 (791) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    29.2%
    Advisory: 396Fail: 27 (6% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    23.6%
    Advisory: 217Fail: 5 (2% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Exhaust has a minor leak

    16.2%
    Advisory: 123Fail: 27 (18% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    14.5%
    Advisory: 173Fail: 22 (11% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Suspension mounting area corroded, but not seriously

    14.3%
    Advisory: 127Fail: 103 (45% of the times it was found)

Based on 869 tests

Looking at a Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built before 2000 (over 25 years old), the Skoda Felicia Mk1 (791) (1994-2001) fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 868 25+ year old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 1,003 MOT tests on Skoda Felicias first registered between 1994-2001. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.