2011 Skoda Roomster 1.2L Petrol · FD61 AXK

A fifteen-year-old Skoda Roomster with four recorded MOT tests passing without advisories across 2018 to 2021, followed by a pattern of accumulating defects and ultimately a fail on 19 February 2026, presents a mixed roadworthiness picture that demands close scrutiny. The most recent test on 26 February 2026 recorded a clean pass just seven days after a failure for non-functioning wipers, an inoperative side repeater, an insecure front registration plate, and an incorrect-colour rear indicator. That failure suggests a cluster of low-cost electrical and trim issues rather than major mechanical deterioration, but the rapid turnaround implies the vehicle was only put through test once these items were addressed, and any prospective buyer should personally verify that the repairs were carried out properly rather than bodged. Looking at the broader timeline, the 2022 test pass was accompanied by advisories for worn front brake discs, edge-worn rear tyres, and an altered headlight adjuster, while the same date's failure for headlamp aim being too low shows the lighting system was already a concern. The 2018 test flagged all four tyres as worn close to the legal limit, and the 2019 pass noted rear brake pads wearing thin, suggesting a consistent pattern of wear-related advisories on consumables that has persisted through the record. Recorded mileage stands at 92,959 miles across roughly fifteen years, equating to approximately 6,197 miles per year, which is broadly in line with average annual usage for a car of this age. The testing gaps in the record are notable: there is no MOT history between September 2022 and February 2026, a period of over three years. This absence could reflect a SORN period or simply that the vehicle was not presented for testing during that interval, but regardless it means the documented roadworthiness information is sparse and the vehicle's mechanical state between those dates is not independently verified. The mileage accumulated between the 2022 test and the 2026 tests is not captured in this record, so a buyer cannot confirm whether the car has covered a modest or substantial distance in the intervening years and should verify this independently through service documentation or the V5C logbook. For the brake system, the 2022 advisories specifically noted front brake discs as worn, pitted, or scored but not seriously weakened at that time, which on a car now four years and potentially many thousand miles further on means the discs may well have reached their minimum thickness or be close to it. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or squealing from the front wheels under light braking, feel for vibration or pedal pulsation through the steering wheel or brake pedal that would indicate disc runout, and check for pulling to one side under steady braking that could indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear. Inspect the visible portions of the brake pipes and flexible hoses for corrosion, surface rust, or any weeping of fluid, as brake line integrity is a common advisory area on older vehicles in the UK climate. The 2019 advisory on rear brake pads wearing thin, combined with the 2022 front disc wear, suggests the braking system has been working through consumables steadily rather than failing catastrophically, but a buyer should budget for replacement of both front discs and pads and a thorough check of the rear pads and possibly the rear calipers. Suspension and steering components are not directly flagged in the MOT record, but the consistent tyre wear pattern noted in 2018, with all four tyres worn close to the legal limit and showing edge wear, can indicate alignment issues or worn suspension bushes and wishbone components. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension when traversing speed bumps or potholes, particularly over uneven surfaces, and pay attention to any vague or wandering steering feel that could point to worn tie bar ends, drop links, or anti-roll bar bushes. The Skoda Roomster uses a torsion beam rear axle, so check for any sagging at the rear under load and listen for rear-end thumps over bumps. Given that the vehicle had both rear tyres worn on edge in 2018 and again in 2022, it would be prudent to have the wheel alignment professionally checked and to inspect the rear axle bushes for cracking or deterioration. Finally, the lighting and electrical concerns from the February 2026 failure should be confirmed resolved by personally testing every exterior light, including the front side repeater, both indicators, the rear indicators for correct amber colour, and confirming the wiper blades clear the screen effectively rather than smearing, as these items were recently flagged as defective and any recurrence would suggest underlying wiring or connector issues rather than simple bulb failures.