2012 Skoda Yeti 1.2L Petrol · FD12 UOO

Across the seven MOT tests recorded between 2021 and 2026, this 2012 Skoda Yeti presents a generally clean roadworthiness record, with only two minor electrical and lighting issues preventing straight passes. The most recent event on 10 August 2026 is particularly worth dissecting because it shows two outcomes on the same day: a fail for both headlamp aim readings sitting too low (4.1.2 (a)), followed immediately by a pass with no defects recorded. This pattern strongly suggests a same-day remedial adjustment rather than a deeper underlying lighting fault, although it does confirm that on the first inspection the beams were outside the legal tolerance band. The earlier failure in August 2022 for an offside side repeater not working is similarly trivial in isolation, an item typically resolved by replacing a small bulb or the repeater lens unit. Set against four completely clean passes in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the overall trajectory is one of stable roadworthiness with no progression into more serious structural or mechanical categories. The mileage profile of 76,152 miles over fourteen years works out at roughly 5,400 miles annually, which is well below average for a car of this age and certainly lower than expected for a family-oriented Yeti. There are no unusual gaps in the annual testing record, with the vehicle appearing for its MOT every August without exception, so the low accumulation reflects consistent light use rather than extended periods off the road. Mechanically, this sort of usage tends to preserve the engine internals, clutch and gearbox, but it can work against items that suffer from prolonged standing: brake discs may have developed light surface corrosion, rubber components such as suspension bushes, anti-roll bar links, CV gaiters and drive shaft boots are more prone to perishing and cracking when not regularly exercised, and the cooling system seals may have hardened. The annual mileage progression between tests appears incremental and consistent, with no abrupt jumps that would suggest a hidden heavy-use phase or odometer irregularity. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is to verify that the headlamp aim has been correctly set rather than masked by a mechanical fault. On inspection, the headlamp lens should be checked for internal moisture or silvering, which would indicate failed sealing and often coincides with beam scatter or projector misalignment, and the adjuster mechanism should be turned to confirm it still holds position rather than drifting back down under vibration. With the 2022 side repeater failure, all indicator repeaters, the main front and rear indicator clusters, and the hazard switch should be operated to confirm every lamp illuminates reliably, as small earth faults on Skoda lighting circuits of this era can be intermittent. Given the low annual mileage, particular attention should be paid during the test drive to any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate perished lower wishbone bushes or worn anti-roll bar drop links, and any vibration through the brake pedal during the first firm application, suggesting a lip of corrosion has formed on the brake discs from light use. Finally, under-bonnet and under-vehicle inspection should focus on rubber condition rather than high-mileage wear patterns. Look for cracking, splitting or weeping from the coolant hoses, the cam cover gasket, and the power steering reservoir seals, all of which harden with age rather than mileage. Examine the brake hoses and flexible lines for surface cracking and check the caliper slide pins for any stiffness when the wheel is removed, as seized pins are a common consequence of low-mileage cars sitting with lightly applied brakes. Confirm the exhaust system is solid, particularly the rubber mounting hangers and the flexible joint, which perish over time regardless of use, and that the air conditioning system still produces cold output, since condenser seals and compressor clutch coils are age-sensitive. With the MOT record showing no advisories and only the two minor lighting issues noted, the vehicle has demonstrably cleared every safety and emissions threshold in recent years, and the remaining mechanical risk profile is largely dictated by its age and modest annual use rather than any recorded defects.